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The Land Promised – Deuteronomy 26 First Fruits and Tithes

Posted on June 16, 2025June 26, 2025 by UPCRL

by Ptr. Art Calaguas

Shalom.

The world’s attention is now on the heightened conflict between Israel and Iran but the living and dead hostages are still held somewhere in Gaza after the October 7, 2023 Hamas surprise attack on Israel. The IDF says 2 more bodies have been recovered from Gaza. Let us continue to pray for the release of all the remaining 53 hostages who have been in captivity for more than 617 days (or 88 weeks) and for a just end to the wars against the Jewish nation. Continue to stand with Israel and continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9).

Deuteronomy 26 is logically connected as a continuation to the previous chapter and contains the last of the specific and case laws included in the 2nd discourse of Moses. Deuteronomy 26:1-4 sets the rules for offering the first fruits from the land promised. Verses 5-11 reminds all of their story of redemption and is like a statement of faith in the LORD’s faithfulness and mighty acts that multiplied the patriarch and freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. This section has the distinctive “wandering Aramean” verse (Deuteronomy 26:5). Verses 12-15 speak about tithes and community obligations toward the welfare of the Levites, the sojourner, orphans and widows. In all these verses, the land promised is a key element. Deuteronomy 26:16-19, the last section, then wraps up the discourse of Moses with reiterations of the covenant between the LORD and his people and mutual expectations. 

Deuteronomy 26:1-4 mentions the land promised starting in verse 1 where the word אֶרֶץ “erets” for land is used to give a view of the near future when the Israelites come into Canaan. In verse 2, the word אֲדָמָה “adamah” is used for ground in reference to some of the first fruit harvested from the land, אֶרֶץ “erets” to be offered to the LORD in the specific מָקוֹם “maqom” for the place that the LORD will choose. The first fruit offering is brought to the priest in office at that time with the declaration that this is indeed the first fruit from the אֶרֶץ “erets” land he has come into. The offering is set before the altar of the LORD. Then the Israelite making the offering would make the statement of faith about how he got to the land promised.

Verses 5-11 documents the “wandering Aramean” story of redemption and a statement of faith in the LORD and his promises. From a man, then a family, to many tribes and then to become a nation while being enslaved in Egypt. And the LORD rescued and redeemed them and brought them to the land promised. The Hebrew verse of Deuteronomy 26:9 is given below (read right to left, top down):

וַיְבִאֵ֖נוּ אֶל־הַמָּקֹ֣ום הַזֶּ֑ה וַיִּתֶּן־לָ֙נוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את אֶ֛רֶץ זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָֽשׁ׃

The New American Standard Bible (NASB 1995) translation follows:

9and He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

The word מָקוֹם “maqom” is used here for place while אֶרֶץ “erets” for land is used twice in this verse. Note the often-repeated descriptive phrase “a land flowing with milk and honey” for the productive land promised used in this same verse. Verse 10 again uses the word אֲדָמָה “adamah” for ground which produced the grain or fruit being offered. Verse 11 says the occasion is both a time for worship to the LORD and a time for rejoicing for what the LORD God has given to each one’s בּיִת “bayith” house in fellowship with those in need.  

Deuteronomy 26:12-15 then speaks of tithes (both annual and on the 3rd year) and the purpose of the 3rd year tithe. This is for the needy in the land: the Levites, sojourners, orphans and widows. The section contains a statement of faithfulness and obedience to the covenantal stipulations from the LORD. The people then request for God’s blessings as found in verse 15. The Hebrew verse of Deuteronomy 26:15 is given below (read right to left, top down):

הַשְׁקִיפָה֩ מִמְּעֹ֨ון קָדְשְׁךָ֜ מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם וּבָרֵ֤ךְ אֶֽת־עַמְּךָ֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֵת֙ הָאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תָּה לָ֑נוּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר נִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ לַאֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ אֶ֛רֶץ זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָֽשׁ׃

The NASB 1995 translation follows:

15‘Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the ground which You have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey, as You swore to our fathers.’

Again, the word אֲדָמָה “adamah” is used (with the definite article) for ground and the familiar word אֶרֶץ “erets” for land, in the well-known phrase “a land flowing with milk and honey.” This is the 2nd occurrence of this identical phrase in this chapter. This phrase (4 words in Hebrew; 7 words in English) has been found in several places studied before in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and in earlier chapters of Deuteronomy as well.

In the concluding section of this chapter, in Deuteronomy 26:16-19, Moses finishes with his recall of the specific rules and regulations, laws and statutes given by the LORD. He reminds the people that the LORD commands obedience to the covenant and that the people are expected to do their part to be loyal to the LORD as their only God. The LORD will then regard his people as a “treasured possession,” will raise them up in praise, fame and honor “high above all nations,” and they shall be a “people holy” or a holy nation to the LORD God in the land promised.

We will continue next time.

God bless us all.

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