1._And it shall be when thou art come. _The Israelites are commanded to offer their first-fruits, for the same reason that they were to pay the tribute for every soul; viz., that they might confess that they themselves, and all that they had, belonged to God. This was the only distinction, that the... [ Continue Reading ]
2._That thou shalt take of the first. _We know that in the first-fruits the whole produce of the year was consecrated to God. The people, (338) therefore, bore in them a testimony of their piety to Him, whom they daily experienced to be their preserver, and the giver of their food. This typical rite... [ Continue Reading ]
12._When thou hast made an end of tithing. _In this passage Moses urgently stimulates them to offer the tithes willingly and abundantly, by placing God, as it were, before their eyes, as if they paid them into his hand: for a solemn protestation is enjoined, in which they condemn themselves as guilt... [ Continue Reading ]
14._I have not eaten thereof in my mourning _(_tristitia_) It is clear that the sacred offerings are here spoken of; but the question is, what is meant by eating in mourning? This is the exposition received by almost universal consent; that although want may have tempted them to theft and fraud, yet... [ Continue Reading ]
15._Look down from thy holy habitation. _Whilst they are commanded to offer their prayers and supplications, that God would bless the land, on this condition, that they had not defiled themselves by any sacrilege, at the same time they are reminded, on the other hand, that God’s blessing was not els... [ Continue Reading ]
16._This day the Lord thy God. _He again reminds them that God is the author of the Law, in order that His majesty should the more impress them; and not only so, but that, since the Law was specially delivered to them, its observation was the more enjoined upon them. Hence he exhorts them earnestly... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Thou hast avouched the Lord _(231) He shews them from the consequence that nothing can be better or more desirable for them than to embrace God’s Law; for nothing can be more honorable to ourselves than to give to God His due honor, and to exalt His glory to its due preeminence. Moses declares t... [ Continue Reading ]