Exodus 22:29-30 - Exposition

Law concerning first-fruits . God required as first-fruits from his people,

1 . The first-born of their children;

2 . The firstborn of all their cattle; and

3 . The first of all the produce of their lands,

whether wet or dry; wine, oil, grain of all kinds, and fruits. The first-born of their children were to be redeemed by a money payment ( Exodus 13:13 ; Numbers 3:46-48 ); but the rest was to be offered in sacrifice. The phrase, "thou shalt not delay ," implies that there would be reluctance to comply with this obligation, and that the offering would be continually put off. In Nehemiah's time the entire custom had at one period fallen into disuse. ( Nehemiah 10:35 , Nehemiah 10:36 .) The first of thy ripe fruits . Literally, "thy fulness." The paraphrase of the A . V . no doubt gives the true meaning. The first-born of thy sons, Compare above, Exodus 13:2 , Exodus 13:12 .