“The First-fruits of Christ”
Alfred Edersheim has written: “As a family feast the presentation of the firstfruits would enter more than any other rite into family religion and family life [among those of ancient Israel]. Not a child in Israel-at least of those who inhabited the Holy Land [for only that grown in the Holy Land was thus sacrificed]-could have been ignorant of all connected with this service, and that even though it had never been taken to the beautiful ’city of the Great King, ’ nor gazed with marvel and awe at the Temple of Jehovah. For scarcely had a brief Eastern spring merged into early summer, when with the first appearance of ripening fruit, whether on the ground or on trees, each household would prepare for this service. The head of the family ... accompanied by his child, would go into his field and mark off certain portions from the most promising of the crop. For only the best might be presented to the Lord, and it was set apart before it was yet ripe, and solemn dedication being, however, afterwards renewed, when it was actually cut. Thus, each time anyone would go into the field, he would be reminded of the ownership of Jehovah, till the reapers cut down the golden harvest.” (The Temple, pp. 380-81.)
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