Deuteronomy 26 Study Notes
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26:1-3 The first . . . produce is most likely a reference to the Festival of Harvest (Gk Pentecost), fifty days after the Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread (cp. Ex 34:26; Lv 23:10). While Israel was in the wilderness they subsisted largely on heavenly manna, but in Canaan they would settle down, plant crops, and live off the produce of the land (Jos 5:10-12). It was fitting, then, that the people should acknowledge God’s goodness by offering him the first and best of their crops.
26:4-11 Like later church creeds, these verses encapsulate Israel’s core beliefs in the form of a resumé of God’s mighty acts in history on her behalf (cp. Gn 12:1; 13:14-17; Ex 13:11).
26:12 In the absence of governmental welfare and a paid clergy in OT Israel (cp. 24:19-22), these needy groups must be cared for with the tenth of the produce given every third year. In the other two years, it would be fully given to the Lord. This passage elaborates on 14:27-29 and the tithes of the third year.
nathan
| Hebrew pronunciation | [nah THAHN] |
| CSB translation | give |
| Uses in Deuteronomy | 176 |
| Uses in the OT | 2,014 |
| Focus passage | Deuteronomy 26:1-3,6,9-15,19 |
The meanings of nathan may derive from extending the hand to give things (Gn 3:6) and to put (Ex 29:3), place (Nm 16:17), or set (Gn 18:8) them somewhere. Nathan involves bestowing majesty (1Ch 29:25), granting requests (1Sm 1:17), and imparting wisdom (Pr 29:15). It means allow (Nm 20:21), ascribe (Jb 36:3), apply (Ec 1:13), or gave (Ezk 27:10). Nathan denotes distribute (2Ch 31:14), lend (Lv 25:37), exchange (Dt 14:25), pay (Dt 24:15), or give to (1Kg 8:39). One puts out hands (Gn 38:28) or throws them up in surrender (Jr 50:15). Nathan functions within idioms such as turn the back (2Ch 29:6), raise the voice (Jr 4:16), and win favor (Pr 13:15). It describes casting lots (Lv 16:8) or piercing an awl through something (Dt. 15:17). Nathan signifies assigning (Lv 6:17) or making (Is 3:4). One sets traps (Ps 119:110) or provides food (Gn 28:20).
26:13-15 To give to poor and dependent persons is to give to the Lord himself. Having done that, the Israelites could with good cause invoke God’s blessing upon the nation.
26:16-19 The bilateral character of the covenant of these statutes and ordinances is apparent from the fact that Israel had affirmed that the Lord was their God and the Lord had affirmed in turn that they were his special people (Ex 19:5; cp. Dt 7:6).