Cod. Menachoth. Vide Maimonid. in Temedim. & Mosaphim.FIRST-FRUITS. The presents were so called which the Hebrews made to God, consisting of part of the fruits of their harvest, to express their submission and dependance, and to acknowledge the sovereign Dominion of God, the author of all happiness. These First-fruits were offered at the Temple first, before any part of the crop was touched; and afterwards, when the harvest was over, before any private persons began to use their corn; and for this reason they were called First-fruits. The first of these First-fruits, which were offered in the name of the whole Nation, was a sheaf of barley, which was gathered on the 15th of Nisan in the evening, and this was threshed in the Court of the Temple. After it was well cleaned and winnowed, about three pints of it were taken, roasted, and pounded in a mortar. Over this was thrown a log of oil, and an handful of incense was added to it; and the Priest taking this offering, waved it before the Lord towards the four parts of the world, threw an handful of it in the fire upon the Altar, and the rest was his own. After this, every one was at liberty to reap and get in his harvest. See hereafter the article SHEAF.
Levit. xxiii. 17. Joseph. Antiq. l. 3. c. 10. p. 93.When the wheat-harvest was over, that is to say, the day of Pentecost, they offered again First-fruits of another kind in the name of all the nation, which consisted in two loaves, of two assarons, that is to say, of about three pints of flour each. These loaves were made of leavened dough. Josephus mentions only one loaf, and says, that it was served up to the Priests that evening at supper, together with the other offerings, and that all were to be eaten that day, without leaving any thing for the next.
Besides these First-fruits, which were offered in the name of the whole nation, every private person was obliged to bring his First-fruits to the Temple. The Scripture prescribes neither the time nor the Vide Misn. tract. Thrumoth. c. 4. n. 3.quantity. The Rabbins say, that they were obliged to bring at least the sixtieth part of their fruits and harvest. The most liberal gave the fortieth, the least liberal the fiftieth, others the sixtieth. They met in companies of four and twenty persons to carry Ibid. tract. Becharim. c. 3. n. 3, 4, 5, 8.their First-fruits in a ceremonious manner. The company was preceded by an ox appointed for the sacrifice, with a crown of olives on his head, and his horns gilded over. One who played upon the flute, walked before them as far as Jerusalem. The First-fruits were of wheat, barley, grapes, figs, apricocks, olives, and dates. Every one carried his basket. The richest of them had one of gold, others, one of silver, and the poorest a wicker-basket. They walked in pomp as far as the Temple, singing songs in their procession. When they came near Jerusalem, the citizens went out to meet them, and saluted them with great civility.
Numb.xv. 19, 20.When they were got as far as the mountain, on which the temple was situated, every one, even the King himself, if he were there, took his basket upon his shoulder, and carried it as far as the Court belonging to the Priests. Then the Levites sung these words; I will magnify thee, O Lord, for thou hast set me up, &c. Psal. xxx. And he who brought the First-fruits said, I profess Deut. xxvi. 4, 5, &c.this day unto the Lord thy God, that I am come unto the country, which the Lord sware unto our fathers for to give us. Then he put the basket upon his hand, the Priest supporting it at the bottom, and continued, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation great, mighty, and populous. And the Egyptians evil intreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage. And when we cried unto the Lord God of our fathers, the Lord heard our voice, and looked on our affliction and our labour, and our oppression: and the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand…He hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey. And now behold, I have brought the First-fruits of the land, which thou, O Lord, hast given me. Having said these words, he put his basket beside the Altar, prostrated himself, and went away. We may see what relates to the First-fruits treated very much at large in the Mishnah, in the treatises intitled Thrumoth, and Becorim, in the Commentators, who have written on the Mishnah, and on the xxii. 29. xxiii. 19. Chapters of Exodus.
There was besides, another sort of First-fruits which was paid to God. When the bread in every family was kneaded, a portion of it was set apart, and given to the Priest or Levite who dwelt in the place. If there were no Priest nor Levite there, it was cast into the oven, and there left to be consumed by the fire. The Law had not fixed the quantity of bread, which was to be offered every time: but St. Jerom says, that Hieronym. in cap. xlv. Ezech.custom and tradition had determined it to be between the fortieth and sixtieth part Deut. xi. 6, 7, 8.of what was kneaded. Philo. l. de præmiis Sacerdot.Philo speaks of this custom as a thing in use among all the Jews. Leo of Modena, Parr. 2. c. 9. of the ceremonies of the Jews.Leo of Modena declares, that the same was still observed in his time. This is one of the three precepts peculiar to the women; because they generally are the persons who make the bread. When they have made a piece of paste about as large as forty eggs, they take a small part of it, which they form in the manner of a cake, then throw it into the fire, with these words, Blessed be thou, O Lord God, King of heaven, who hast sanctified us by thy precepts, and commanded us to separate a cake of our dough. The Rabbins hold that no one is obliged to pay the First-fruits, excepting in the Land of Promise, that they are to give at least the twenty-fourth part of the lump which they have kneaded, and the bakers the forty-eighth part only.
Exod. xiii. 1, 2, 3, &c. xxxiv. 20. Numb. xviii. 16. Levit. xxvii. 6.Lastly, those offerings are often called First-fruits in Scripture which were brought by the Israelites out of devotion to the Temple, in order to make their feasts of thanksgiving, to which they invited their relations and friends, and the Levites who were in their cities. The First-fruits and Tenths were the most certain and substantial revenue belonging to the Priests and Levites. The First-fruits of all the produce of the country, and the First-born of all beasts were given to them. The very children who were First-born, were the Lord’s; they were offered in his Temple, and redeemed with a certain sum of money, which was five shekels.
The Latin word Primitiæ is taken not only literally for the First-fruits of the earth, and Offerings which were made to God, but likewise for what is excellent in every thing. For example, St. Paul says, that Christians have the First-fruits of the Holy Spirit, Primitias Spiritus habentes; that is to say, a greater abundance of God’s Spirit, and more perfect and more excellent gifts than the Jews had. In another place he says, that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and become the First-fruits of them that slept. Jesus Christ is, as is said elsewhere, the first-begotten of the dead, or the first-born of those who rose again: Primogenitus mortuorum. And the same St. Paul says, that the Thessalonians were as it were the First-fruits whom God had chosen to salvation. Elegit vos Deus primitias in salutem. He hath chosen them with a particular distinction, as the First-fruits are chosen from amidst the most exquisite of the several fruits, with a design of offering them to the Lord.