First Fruits Series

The ritual outlined here was to be undertaken not in the present but only after the promised land had been appropriated and settled (v. 1). Then, in the socioeconomic life of agrarianism in which patterns of sowing, cultivation, and harvesting had been adopted... According to the agricultural calendars, this would be in early summer, on the sixth of Sivan (May/June), the time of the beginning of the wheat harvest (cf. Lev 23:15–16) (Merrill, E. H. (2001). Vol. 4: Deuteronomy (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (332–333). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

The firstfruits of the harvest were offered at the Feast of Weeks (16:9–12; cf. 18:4); Unlike Passover and the covenant ceremony, the offering of firstfruits would be a new religious institution in Israel. Before taking possession of the land, they were not an agricultural people and therefore had no harvest festival. Thus this first offering of the firstfruits by the Israelites, once they had taken possession of the land, would mark the inauguration of the new life which had been anticipated for so long on the basis of the covenant promise of God (Craigie, P. C. (1976). The Book of Deuteronomy. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (320). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).

Some scholars believe that this was a command to be followed only once. However, the first fruits were offered yearly on the day after Passover (Lev 23:10–11) (KJV Bible commentary. 1997 (369). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.).

That they should take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground the word fruit (NRSV) should be understood in the general sense of “produce,”

not just of fruits and vegetables but also of sheep and cattle (Braun, M. (2000). Deuteronomy (2nd ed.). The People’s Bible (242). Milwaukee, Wis.: Northwestern Pub. House.).

During the years that the people were in Egypt, whatever they raised was on soil that did not belong to them. During the years that they were in the wilderness, they were away from fertile land on which to grow things. But in the land that God planned to give them, crops, orchards, and vineyards would be theirs to enjoy. God had exceedingly blessed them, and they were to express their thanks (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (Dt 26:3). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.).

• Many times in life we are driven by what others want us to do? From chores, to hobbies to workplace projects, we can become so busy that after it all, we are worn out.

• Firstfruit ministry is looking at God’s priorities, mandates, and giftings for you first, before all other obligations.

This acknowledgment for the people of Israel in verse two, is that God was the source and owner of everything that the people possessed. It was God who promised them the land; it was God who heard their cry in Egypt and delivered them; it was God who protected and provided for the people in the wilderness. Now God was going to give them possession of the land and cause them to prosper! The Israelites were to offer to God the fruit that ripened first, even though there was always a possibility that the rest of the crop would not ripen or be harvested because of some unforeseen circumstance. By offering the first of the produce to the Lord, the people expressed their trust in God’s provision and their gratitude for His good gifts (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (Dt 26:2). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.).