Devarim 26 contains an offering, three declarations and the third year tithe. These three things are unusual in their requirements and sometimes overlooked. Although, some of these requirements may not seem applicable today, we should not simply ignore them. They have as much application today as they did when the were originally performed. These are part of the Firstfruit observance on the 16^th of Aviv. We ought to take time to seriously consider the implementation of these commandments in our walk of faith.

Yehovah is used 20 times in Devarim 26 in 19 verses.

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Sections:

Firstfruits Basket (H2935)	Feast of Firstfruits	Firstfruits of the Earth
Firstfruit Declarations	Second Declaration	Third Year Tithe
Third Declaration	Yehovah’s Response	The Kid and the Declarations

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Firstfruits Basket (H2935)

Firstfruits Basket (H2935)

Devarim 26:1-2

¹ And it shall be, when you come into the land which Yehovah your Redeemer gives you an inheritance, and possesses it, and dwell therein; ²that you shall take of the first of all the fruit of the earth (adamah), which you shall bring of your land that Yehovah your Redeemer gives you, and shall put in a basket (tene), and shall go to the place which Yehovah your Redeemer shall choose to place His name there.

What is described in Devarim 26 is a Firstfruit Offering. It is to be first done when Yisrael enters the land at the place Yehovah chooses to place His name. This would have begun shortly after the Mishkan was erected in Shiloh. The first place Yehovah put His name was in Yehoshua 18:1.

¹ And the whole congregation of the Children of Yisrael assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the Ohel Moed there. And the land was subdued before them.

All were to bring their firstfruits of the earth in a basket.

Basket is the Hebrew word טֶנֶא tene (H2935). It is in the Bible 4 times and is always translated basket. It is found twice in Devarim 26 and twice in Devarim 28. This is different than the Hebrew word for basket used in Vayyiqra 8:2.

²Take Aharon and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bull for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of matzos;

Basket is the Hebrew word סַל sal (H5536). It is in the Bible 15 times and is always translated basket. The only time it is used outside of Torah is in Shofetim 6:19.

¹⁹And Gidon went in, and made ready a kid, and matzos of an efah of flour. The flesh he put in a basket (sal), and he put the broth in a pot, and brought out to him under the oak, and presented.

סַל sal (H5536) is found in the following:

Chapter	Verse*	Count	Purpose
Bereishis 40	16, 17 (2), 18	4	Chief baker’s dream he told Yosef.
Shemos 29	3 (2), 23, 32	4	Description of the Priests’ anointing.
Vayyiqra 8	2 (2), 26, 31	3	Aharon and his sons’ anointing.
Bemidbar 6	15,17,19	3	Nazarite Vow anointing.
Shofetim 6	19	1	Gidon’s offering.

* (2) indicates that סַל sal (H5536) is in the verse twice.

טֶנֶא tene (H2935) and סַל sal (H5536) are the only Hebrew words for basket found in Torah. There are three other words for basket. These are only found in the Prophets and the Writings.

· דּוּד dud (H1731). This is more than likely a pot for cooking.

· סַלְסִלָּה salsillah (H5552). Only used in Yirmeyahu 6:9.

· כְּלוּכ keluv (H3619). This is more than likely a cage.

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Feast of Firstfruits

Feast of Firstfruits

Devarim 26:1-2

It does not state that this offering is annual nor does it seem to be tied to the three year tithe described later in Devarim 26. It is more than likely the offering performed annually on the Feast of Firstfruits.

In Vayyiqra 23, when the Children of Yisrael entered the land, they were to perform the Firstfruit Offering in Vayyiqra 23:10-11.

¹⁰Speak to the Children of Yisrael, and say to them, When you come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. ¹¹And he shall wave the sheaf before Yehovah, to be accepted for you. On the morrow after the Shabbas the priest shall wave it.

This initially occurred in Yehoshua 5:12.

¹² And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old grain of the land; neither had the Children of Yisrael manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Kenaan that year.

Although it does not state they did the offering, the offering was required prior to eating the fruit of the land, Vayyiqra 23:14.

¹⁴And you shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that you have brought an offering to your God. A statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Since they did eat, the offering had to be performed. At this point in the history of Yisrael, Yehoshua would not have allowed them to go forward knowingly violating this requirement. It would have resulted in severe consequences much worse than the defeat at Ai, Yehoshua 7:4-6.

⁴So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men and they fled before the men of Ai. ⁵And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men. For they chased them before the gate to Shevariym, and smote them in the going down. Wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. ⁶And Yehoshua rent his clothes, and fell to the land upon his face before the Ark of Yehovah until the eventide, he and the elders of Yisrael, and put dust upon their heads.

The Firstfruit offerings dedicated the land and gave thanks to Yehovah for bringing them into the land. This would have marked the date of the Firstfruit Feast in subsequent years. From this date, Shavous is calculated.

The Firstfruit Feast is observed every year on the 16^th of Aviv as a remembrance of the original entry into the land and continuing thanksgiving to Yehovah for His blessings. Additionally, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.

²⁰But now is Messiah risen from the dead, become the firstfruits of them that slept. ²¹For since by man death, by man also the resurrection of the dead. ²²For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah shall all be made alive. ²³But every man in his own order. Messiah the firstfruits; afterward they that are Messiah’s at His coming.

Three days after Yeshua’s crucifixion, He rose on the Feast of Firstfruits, the 16^th of Aviv. This alone should give us reason to observe this feast with grateful thanksgiving. It was the date we could enter in the Kingdom of Heaven.

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Firstfruits of the Earth

Firstfruits of the Earth

Devarim 26:1-2

The offering described in Devarim 26:2 is the same firstfruit offering found in Shemos 23:19.

¹⁹The first of the firstfruits of your earth (adamah) you shall bring into the house of Yehovah your Redeemer. You shall not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.

What makes this interesting is in both Shemos 23:19 and Devarim 26:2, the Hebrew word אֲדָמָה adamah (H0127) is used as opposed to אֶרֶץ eretz (H0776).

The same is written in Shemos 34:26.

²⁶The first of the firstfruits of your earth (adamah) you shall bring to the house of Yehovah your Redeemer. You shall not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.

Whereas in Vayyiqra 23:10, land is the Hebrew word אֶרֶץ eretz (H0776).

¹⁰Speak to the Children of Yisrael, and say to them, When you be come into the land (eretz) which I give to you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.

Note that in Shemos 23:19 and Devarim 26:2, Firstfruits is the Hebrew word בִּכּוּר bikkur (H1061). It is in the Bible 18 times. בִּכּוּר bikkur (H1061) is translated firstfruit 14 times, firstripe 2 times, firstripe figs 1 time and hasty fruit 1 time. It should be translated firstfruit in all uses.

In the future, we would bring forth the fruit of the earth, nonbelievers. They are the future firstfruits in the Millennium.

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Firstfruit Declarations

Firstfruit Declarations

Devarim 26:3

³And you shall go to the priest that shall be in those days, and say to him, I profess this day to Yehovah your Redeemer, that I am come to the land which Yehovah swore to our fathers for to give us.

This is the first declaration that is made in Devarim 26. Each individual is to take their basked of first fruits and recite the following:

I am come to the land which Yehovah swore to our fathers for to give us.

This declaration acknowledges that we are in the land that Yehovah swore to our fathers. This is to be done every Feast of Firstfruits on the 16^th of Aviv.

For those that think this is unnecessary, one needs to acknowledge their home. As a believer, we are told in Ephesians 2:4-6.

⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Messiah, by grace you are saved; ⁶and has raised up together, and made sit together in heavenly in Messiah Yeshua.

Once we have salvation we are no longer of the earth. We are sitting together with other believers in Messiah Yeshua.

“Made sit together” is the Greek word συγκαθιζω sugkathizo (H4776). It is in the Bible 2 times. συγκαθιζω sugkathizo (H4776) is translated make sit together 1 time and be set down together 1 time. The other place it is found in the Bible is in Luke 22:55.

⁵⁵And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together (sugkathizo), Peter sat down among them.

συγκαθιζω sugkathizo (H4776) means to give or take a seat in company with, to make sit down together. As a believer, God causes us to sit with Messiah in heavenly places. This is our home. Further in Colossians 3:1-3.

¹ If you then be risen with Messiah, seek those things which are above, where Messiah sits on the right hand of God. ²Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ³For you are dead, and your life is hid with Messiah in God.

We may think that our feet are on the earth, but our life is to be with Him in the Spirit in the Heavens. We should be focused on this. When you consider where we go on these feast days, consider Galatians 4:26.

²⁶But Yerushalayim which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

We are to be in the Spirit in Yerushalayim on the migratory feasts. Actually, we are to be there all the time. We are to live our lives in Him. As such, we should be doing this declaration every Feast of Firstfruits on the 16^th of Aviv.

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Second Declaration

Second Declaration

Devarim 26:4

⁴And the priest shall take the basket out of your hand, and set it down before the Altar of Yehovah your Redeemer.

After the first declaration, the priest takes the basket and sets it before the Altar. Next the individual recites the second declaration.

Devarim 26:5-10

⁵And you shall speak and say before Yehovah your Redeemer, A Arammiy ready to destroy (avad) my father, and he went down into Mitzrayim, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and many. ⁶And the Mitzrim evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage. ⁷And when we cried to Yehovah Redeemer of our fathers, Yehovah heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labor, and our oppression. ⁸And Yehovah brought us forth out of Mitzrayim with a strong (chazaq) hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders. ⁹And He has brought us into this place, and has given us this land, a land that flows with milk and honey. ¹⁰And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which You, Yehovah, have given me. And you shall set it before Yehovah your Redeemer, and worship before Yehovah your Redeemer.

The second declaration is:

A Arammiy ready to destroy my father, and he went down into Mitzrayim, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and many. And the Mitzrim evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage. And when we cried to Yehovah Redeemer of our fathers, Yehovah heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labor, and our oppression. And Yehovah brought us forth out of Mitzrayim with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders. And He has brought us into this place, and has given us this land, a land that flows with milk and honey. And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which You, Yehovah, have given me.

Again this should not only be recited by native Yisraeli, but by all believers. We are considered to be part of the Commonwealth of Yisrael in accordance with Ephesians 2:11-13.

¹¹Wherefore remember, that you in time past Nations (ethnos) in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; ¹²that at that time you were without Messiah, being aliens from the Commonwealth of Yisrael, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. ¹³But now in Messiah Yeshua you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Messiah.

We are never to forget the deliverance of our people. This declaration speaks of three deliverances:

· Deliverance from Arammiy.

· Deliverance from Mitzrayim.

· Deliverance to a Kingdom filled with prosperity and long life.

We should remember these, because we on our own have only caused problems. To date, not one person has lived a life of abundant victory outside of Yehovah. Nor will anyone in the future. We must never forget who is our Redeemer. We should be ever grateful to Him for our daily bread and breath.

The offering is then set before Yehovah and we are to worship.

Devarim 26:11

¹¹And you shall rejoice in every good which Yehovah your Redeemer has given to you, and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the stranger that among you.

After we have made these two declarations and set the offering before Yehovah, we are to rejoice. We are to include the Levite and the stranger. The stranger is considered a proselyte. They live in the land, but have not yet become full fledged Yisraeli or believers.

It is interesting that Devarim 26:11 only mentions the stranger, when Devarim 14:29 includes all four the Levite, stranger, fatherless and widow.

²⁹And the Levite, because he has no part nor inheritance with you, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Yehovah your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

The difference seems to be that Devarim 14:29 is referring to the third year tithe.

Again, Devarim 16:11 includes all four the Levite, stranger, fatherless and widow.

¹¹And you shall rejoice before Yehovah your Redeemer, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite that within your gates, and the stranger (ger), and the fatherless, and the widow, that among you, in the place which Yehovah your Redeemer has chosen to place His name there.

Devarim 16:11 is referring to the Feast of Sukkot. Why there is this difference for the Feast of Firstfruits is unknown.

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Third Year Tithe

Third Year Tithe

Devarim 26:12

¹²When you have made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase the third year, the year of tithing, and have given to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled;

This was first discussed in Devarim 14:28.

²⁸At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year, and shall lay up within your gates.

This tithe is given in the third year. This would be given in the third and the sixth year on a seven-year cycle. In the seventh year, there is no tithe. This is because it is a Sabbatical Year. There is no income in the seventh year. This is considered a special tithe for the poor. This in no way invalidates any other tithe for that year.

This is a tithe for the:

· Levite.

· Stranger.

· Fatherless.

· Widow.

These four classes of people are often forgotten in society. Additionally, these four often do not have a voice or someone to defend their rights. We must never overlook these people. How we treat these groups may reflect on how Yehovah rains on us today and in the future.

Not only are we to provide for them, we are to rejoice with them in our gates. We are to eat with them and all be full.

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Third Declaration

Third Declaration

Devarim 26:13-15

¹³Then you shall say before Yehovah your Redeemer, I have brought away the hallowed things out of house, and also have given them to the Levite, and to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me. I have not transgressed Your commandments, neither have I forgotten. ¹⁴I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away thereof for unclean, nor given thereof for the dead. I have hearkened to the voice of Yehovah my Redeemer, have done according to all that You have commanded me. ¹⁵Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Yisrael, and the land which You have given us, as you swore to our fathers, a land that flows with milk and honey.

It seems that this is only recited on the third year. The declaration is:

I have brought away the hallowed things out of house, and also have given them to the Levite, and to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me. I have not transgressed Your commandments, neither have I forgotten. I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away thereof for unclean, nor given thereof for the dead. I have hearkened to the voice of Yehovah my Redeemer, have done according to all that You have commanded me. Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Yisrael, and the land which You have given us, as you swore to our fathers, a land that flows with milk and honey.

This declaration would be recited on the Feast of Firstfruits every third year. In the seven year cycle that would be twice, the third and sixth years.

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Yehovah’s Response

Yehovah’s Response

Moshe then told the people.

Devarim 26:16

¹⁶This day Yehovah your Redeemer has commanded you to do these statutes and judgments. You shall therefore keep and do them with all your heart, and with all your soul.

Since the beginning, Yisrael was told to do these statues and judgments. We are not to be negligent in any of them. It would be foolish to think that after all that is in the Torah, a Beriyt Chadasha believer would think that they were freed from the law, Torah. That thought is brought forth by those who would have God’s people suffer. It is interesting that Yeshua tells us in Matthew 24:12.

¹²And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Iniquity is the Greek word ανομια anomia (G0458). It is in the Bible 15 times. ανομια anomia (G0458) is translated iniquity 12 times, unrighteousness 1 time, transgress the law + ποιεω poieo (G4160) 1 time and transgression of the law 1 time.

ανομια anomia (G0458) means the condition of being without the law because of ignorance of the law or because of violating the law. The definitive meaning of ανομια anomia (G0458) is one that practices sin, it is not just the committal of an act. This definition of sin sets forth its essential character as the rejection of the law, or will of God and the substitution of one’s own will. ανομια anomia (G0458) should be translated transgression of the law. This captures the full meaning of ανομια anomia (G0458).

Matthew 24:12

¹²And because transgression of the law shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

This may explain why there is so little love in the world today. Many have walked away from the simplicity of Torah to do as they please. Today, it is all about the individual instead of the community. It is the rights of the individual that are protected over the moral fabric of Torah. Today, we are allowed to do as we please regardless of Torah. This is not just among nonbelievers, many who claim to be followers of Messiah disregard Torah. We must never be counted among those who have left Torah to walk a different path. We should pursue the study and understanding of the depth of Torah.

When we state these declarations, it should be a reminder that we are committed to His ways. If we fail, we do not quite. We commit ourselves to walk the fine line of Torah that separates us from the world and from those who make excuses why it is not possible.

Devarim 26:17

¹⁷You have said (amar) Yehovah this day to be your Redeemer, and to walk in His ways, and to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and to hearken to His voice.

Moshe reminds us that these declarations have seven things to follow:

· Yehovah is your only God.

· Yehovah is your only Redeemer.

· Walk in His ways.

· Keep His statutes.

· Keep His commandments.

· Keep His judgments.

· Hearken to His voice.

To do all these will require our time and attention. It will take time to understand what these seven things are and how to implement them. No one implements all in one day or even one year. As we mature, the meaning of all seven will increase in importance and depth. They will bring more meaning to our lives, they guide us through every situation. He will be with us if we are dedicated to this purpose of increasing fulfillment.

Devarim 26:18-19

¹⁸And Yehovah said (amar) you this day to be His peculiar people, as He has promised you, and that should keep all His commandments; ¹⁹and to make you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that you may be a holy people to Yehovah your Redeemer, as He has spoken.

Peculiar comes from the Hebrew word סְגֻלָּה segullah (H5459). It is in the Bible 8 times. סְגֻלָּה segullah (H5459) is translated peculiar treasure 3 times, peculiar 2 times, special 1 time, jewel 1 time and own proper good 1 time.

Just as Yisrael makes a declaration to Yehovah, Moshe reminds the people of Yehovah’s declaration. This was first declared in Shemos 19:5-6.

⁵Now therefore, if you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure (segullah) to Me above all people. For all the land Mine. ⁶And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These the words which you shall speak to the Children of Yisrael.

From the beginning, Yehovah had plans for Yisrael. From the beginning, Yehovah knew exactly who He was dealing with. It has been no surprise to Him the amount of rebellion He has had to endure. However, he knew from the billions of people in the world there would be a remnant. We too can be a part of this remnant. All we have to do is start with these declarations and move forward. We need to move forward in increasing maturity and diligence. We need to do as Paul did in Philippians 3:13-16.

¹³Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended. But one thing, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, ¹⁴I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Messiah Yeshua. ¹⁵Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded and if in any thing be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you. ¹⁶Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Paul did not achieve this over night. It was something he continuously improved in everyday. Just as every other individual who was in the remnant did. Being in the remnant is not something one achieves, it is a lifestyle they put above all other ways. Paul encourages us in Philippians 3:17.

¹⁷Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an example.

We need to find those that walk this lifestyle. We are to learn from them so we can teach others. This is the life we declare in these three declarations. These cannot be just words we say, Yehovah knows the difference. We should not think otherwise. We need to be people of the Word and our word.

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The Kid and the Declarations

The Kid and the Declarations

Shemos 23:19	Devarim 26:3	1^st Declaration
¹⁹The first of the firstfruits of your earth (adamah) you shall bring into the house of Yehovah your Redeemer. You shall not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.	I am come to the land which Yehovah swore to our fathers for to give us.
Shemos 34:26	Devarim 26:5-10	2^nd Declaration
²⁶The first of the firstfruits of your earth (adamah) you shall bring to the house of Yehovah your Redeemer. You shall not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.	A Arammiy ready to destroy my father, and he went down into Mitzrayim, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and many. And the Mitzrim evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage. And when we cried to Yehovah Redeemer of our fathers, Yehovah heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labor, and our oppression. And Yehovah brought us forth out of Mitzrayim with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders. And He has brought us into this place, and has given us this land, a land that flows with milk and honey. And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which You, Yehovah, have given me.
Devarim 14:21	Devarim 26:13-15	3^rd Declaration
²¹You shall not eat any thing that dies of itself. You shall give it to the stranger that in your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to an alien. For you a holy people to Yehovah your Redeemer. You shall not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.	I have brought away the hallowed things out of house, and also have given them to the Levite, and to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me. I have not transgressed Your commandments, neither have I forgotten. I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away thereof for unclean, nor given thereof for the dead. I have hearkened to the voice of Yehovah my Redeemer, have done according to all that You have commanded me. Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Yisrael, and the land which You have given us, as you swore to our fathers, a land that flows with milk and honey.

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