Albert Barnes Commentary Deuteronomy 26
Albert Barnes Commentary
Deuteronomy 26
Albert Barnes Commentary
Deuteronomy 26
"And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein," — Deuteronomy 26:1 (ASV)
Two liturgical enactments, having a clear and close reference to the whole of the preceding legislation, form a most appropriate and significant conclusion to it, namely:
- The formal acknowledgment in deed and symbol of God’s faithfulness, by the presentation of a basket filled with firstfruits, and in word by the recitation of the solemn formula prescribed in Deuteronomy 26:3, Deuteronomy 26:5–10;
- The solemn declaration and profession on the part of each Israelite on the occasion of the third tithe (Deuteronomy 26:12).
"that thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which thou shalt bring in from thy land that Jehovah thy God giveth thee; and thou shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there." — Deuteronomy 26:2 (ASV)
Regarding firstfruits, see the notes at (Leviticus 23:9 and following). The firstfruits in question here are to be distinguished from both those offered in acknowledgment of the blessings of harvest at the Feasts of Passover and Pentecost, and also from the offerings prescribed in (Numbers 18:8 and following). The latter consisted of preparations from the produce of the earth, such as oil, flour, wine, etc.; while those meant here are the raw produce: the former were national and public offerings; those of this chapter were private and personal. The whole of the firstfruits belonged to the officiating priest.
"And thou shalt answer and say before Jehovah thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father; and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, few in number; and he became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous." — Deuteronomy 26:5 (ASV)
A Syrian ready to perish was my father - The reference is shown by the context to be to Jacob, as the ancestor in whom particularly the family of Abraham began to develop into a nation (compare Isaiah 43:22, Isaiah 43:28, etc.).
Jacob is called a Syrian (literally, Aramaean), not only because of his own long residence in Syria with Laban (Genesis 29–31), as our Lord was called a Nazarene because of His residence at Nazareth (Matthew 2:23), but also because he married and had his children there ; and might be said accordingly to belong to that land more than to any other.
"When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithe of thine increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then thou shalt give it unto the Levite, to the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled." — Deuteronomy 26:12 (ASV)
See the marginal reference to Numbers and note. A strict fulfillment of the onerous and complicated tithe obligations was a leading part of the righteousness of the Pharisees: compare (Matthew 23:23).
"I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I put away thereof, being unclean, nor given thereof for the dead: I have hearkened to the voice of Jehovah my God; I have done according to all that thou hast commanded me." — Deuteronomy 26:14 (ASV)
I have not eaten thereof in my mourning - when the Israelite would be unclean (compare the marginal references).
Nor given ought thereof for the dead - The reference is not so much to the superstitious custom of placing food on or in tombs as to funeral expenses, and more especially the usual feast for the mourners (Ezekiel 24:17; Hosea 9:4). Dedicated things were to be used for glad and holy feasting. Therefore, they were not for funeral banquets, because death and all associated with it was regarded as unclean.
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