Exodus 22:29

29 Thou shalt not delay to pay thy tithes and thy firstfruits: thou shalt give the firstborn of thy sons to me.

Exodus 22:29 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 22:29

Thou shall not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits,
&c.] Which, according to Maimonides ^F11, were of seven kinds only; for he says,

``they do not bring the firstfruits, but of the seven kinds, said in the praise of the land, (the land of Canaan), ( Deuteronomy 8:8 ) and they are wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates;''

and how much of these were to be offered is not fixed by the law, but were left to the generosity of the people: the above mentioned writer asks ^F12,

``what measure do the wise men set? a good eye (or a bountiful man) brings one of forty (or the fortieth part of his fruits); a middling one (one that is neither liberal nor niggardly) brings one of fifty (or the fiftieth part); and an evil one (a covetous man) one of sixty (or the sixtieth part), but never less than that.''

Now this was not to be delayed, but to be brought as soon and as early as could be: the Jewish writers seem to understand this of postponing things, or inverting the order of them, bringing that first which should be last, and that last which should be first; so Jarchi interprets it,

``thou shall not change the order of their separation, to postpone that which should be first, and to put before that which should be last; for the first oblation should not be brought before the firstfruits, and the tithes before the first oblation.''

And thus runs one of their canons or traditions ^F13,

``if anyone brings the first oblation before the firstfruits, the first tithe before the first oblation, the second tithe before the first, it is as if he transgressed a negative precept: "thou shalt not delay or postpone" ( Exodus 22:29 ) ''

And of thy liquors:
and these, according to Maimonides ^F14, were only the firstfruits of liquors of olives and grapes:

the firstborn of thy sons thou shall give unto me;
which is a repetition of the law. (See Gill on Exodus 13:2).

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Hilchot Biccurim, c. 2. sect. 2.
F12 Hilchot Trumot, c. 3. sect. 2.
F13 Misn. Trumot, c. 3. sect. 6.
F14 Biccurim, ut supra. (^F11)

Exodus 22:29 In-Context

27 For that same is the only thing, wherewith he is covered, the clothing of his body, neither hath he any other to sleep in: if he cry to me, I will hear him, because I am compassionate.

28 Thou shalt not speak ill of the gods, and the prince of thy people thou shalt not curse.

29 Thou shalt not delay to pay thy tithes and thy firstfruits: thou shalt give the firstborn of thy sons to me.

30 Thou shalt do the same with the firstborn of thy oxen also and sheep: seven days let it be with its dam: the eighth day thou shalt give it to me.

31 You shall be holy men to me: the flesh that beasts have tasted of before, you shall not eat, but shall cast it to the dogs.