Exodus 22:29

29 "You are not to delay offering from your harvest of grain, olive oil or wine. "The firstborn of your sons you are to give 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 because it is his only garment - he needs it to wrap his body; what else does he have in which to sleep? Moreover, if he cries out to me, I will listen; because I am compassionate.

28 "You are not to curse God, and you are not to curse a leader of your people.

29 "You are not to delay offering from your harvest of grain, olive oil or wine. "The firstborn of your sons you are to give to me.

30 You are to do the same with your oxen and your sheep - it is to stay with its mother seven days, and on the eighth day you are to give it to me.

31 "You are to be my specially separated people. Therefore you are not to eat any flesh torn by wild animals in the countryside; rather, throw it out for the dogs.