You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your free will offerings, nor the wave offering of your hand;
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 17. Tithes. These were of an extraordinary nature, destined for feasts. Calmet. 14:22. Leviticus 27:30. The usual tithes belonged entirely to the Levitical tribe. Calmet.—First-born, or the most excellent, verse 11. Exodus 12:11. 12. The first-born, if it proved to be without defect, and a male, was given to the priests. Numbers 18:15.—Voluntarily. If the thing was vowed to the Lord without restriction, it fell to the share of the priests alone: but if the person specified that he intended it for a peace-offering, and so forth the priest could only claim what was allotted to him by the law. Calmet.—Hands. The fruits of trees, in the fourth year, may be insinuated. Josep. iv. 8. Menochius.