Leviticus 23:9-14

Leviticus 23:9-14

[9] And the LORD  spake  unto Moses,  saying,  [10] Speak  unto the children  of Israel,  and say  unto them, When ye be come  into the land  which I give  unto you, and shall reap  the harvest  thereof, then ye shall bring  a sheaf  of the firstfruits  of your harvest  unto the priest:  [11] And he shall wave  the sheaf  before  the LORD,  to be accepted  for you: on the morrow  after the sabbath  the priest  shall wave  [12] And ye shall offer  that day  when ye wave  the sheaf  an he lamb  without blemish  of the first  year  for a burnt offering  unto the LORD.  [13] And the meat offering  thereof shall be two  tenth deals  of fine flour  mingled  with oil,  an offering made by fire  unto the LORD  for a sweet  savour:  and the drink offering  thereof shall be of wine,  the fourth  part of an hin.  [14] And ye shall eat  neither bread,  nor parched corn,  nor green ears,  until the selfsame  day  that  ye have brought  an offering  unto your God:  it shall be a statute  for ever  throughout your generations  in all your dwellings. 

What does Leviticus 23:9-14 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The Feast of Firstfruits included the presentation of firstfruits of the spring barley harvest in the Promised Land. The Israelites also offered a lamb, flour, and wine, all representative of God"s provisions of spiritual and physical food and drink for His people ( Leviticus 23:9-14). They presented this offering on the day after the Sabbath following Passover. The ancients regarded the firstfruits (Heb. shavuot) as a kind of down payment with more to follow.Jesus arose from the grave on this day as the firstfruits of those who sleep in death ( 1 Corinthians 15:20).
In modern times it is customary for observant Jews to stay up the entire night of Shavuot studying and discussing the Torah. The tradition that the Israelites had fallen asleep the night before God gave them the Torah and Moses had to awaken them is the basis of this custom.
"In order to acknowledge that the LORD provides the needs of their life, God"s people must present the first of their income to him as a token of their devotion." [1]