Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 2:3
Israel [was] holiness unto the LORD, [and] the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
3. Israel was holiness unto the Lord, the firstfruits of his increase ] Cp. Exo 19:6; Deu 8:6; Deu 14:2; cp. Jer 26:18 and Amo 3:2. There is no moral significance attached to the word holiness here. It means simply setting apart from ordinary uses, dedication to God. Israel is as the most precious part of the harvest, that part which is consecrated as God’s portion. The notion was familiar through the yearly custom, prescribed Lev 23:10-14, that a measure of the firstfruits should be waved by the priest before the Lord, and that none of the harvest should be enjoyed till this rite had been fulfilled. Cp. Exo 23:19; Deu 26:2 ff.
all that devour him shall be held guilty ] The priest and his family alone were to eat of the firstfruits. No stranger was allowed to partake. If any unhallowed person profaned the firstfruits by taking of them, he bore “the iniquity that bringeth guilt.” See Lev 22:16 (where the Heb. root is the same as here). Thus the sense is that if unconsecrated (i.e. heathen) nations assail Israel, their fate shall be that of such as eat the firstfruits unlawfully.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Render: Israel is an offering consecrated to Yahweh, His firstfruits of increase. The firstfruits were Gods consecrated property, His portion of the whole harvest. Pagan, i. e., unconsecrated, nations must not meddle with Israel, because it is the nation consecrated to God. If they do, they will bring such guilt upon themselves as those incur who eat the first-fruits Lev 22:10, Lev 22:16.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Israel was holiness unto the Lord] Fully consecrated to his service.
The first fruits of his increase] They were as wholly the Lord’s, as the first fruits were the property of the priests according to the law, Nu 18:13. These the priests alone had a right to devote to their own use.
All that devour him shall offend] As they were betrothed to the Lord, they were considered his especial property; they therefore who injured them were considered as laying violent hands on the property of God. They who persecute God’s children have a grievous burden to bear, an awful account to give.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Israel was holiness, or
holy, the abstract for the concrete, i.e. a people dedicated to God; thus the word is used Lev 21:7; 27:14; set apart from other people for myself by peculiar laws and rites.
And the first-fruits of his increase: this supplement
and is better left out, it being not in the text, and rendering the sense more obscure; therefore better read, either, being the first-fruits, by apposition; or, as the first-fruits, i.e. as the first-fruits were holy to God, so was Israel.
All that devour; or rather, devoured; for it refers to the time past, not to the future, and so the following words; all that were injurious to him
shall offend; or, did offend, were obnoxious, and liable to punishment, as he that devoured that which is holy, Pro 20:25.
Shall come upon them; came upon them: some evil was inflicted on them from the Lord, that was always wont to stand up for the vindication of his people, as upon the Egyptians, Amalekites, Sihon, Og, the Midianites, Canaanites, and others, as the four last books of Moses do abundantly testify; and by these expressions is insinuated that now they are like to find it otherwise, Jer 1:7; this minding of them what God had done for them making way for the closer setting home the following reproofs.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. holiness unto the Lordthatis, was consecrated to the service of Jehovah (Exo 19:5;Exo 19:6). They thus answered tothe motto on their high priest’s breastplate, “Holiness to theLord” (Deu 7:6; Deu 14:2;Deu 14:21).
first-fruits of hisincreasethat is, of Jehovah’s produce. As thefirst-fruits of the whole produce of the land weredevoted to God (Exo 23:19; Num 18:12;Num 18:13), so Israel was devotedto Him as the first-fruit and representative nation among allnations. So the spiritual Israel (Jas 1:18;Rev 14:4).
devourcarrying on theimage of first-fruits which were eaten before the Lordby the priests as the Lord’s representatives; all who ate(injured) Jehovah’s first-fruits (Israel), contracted guilt: forexample, Amalek, the Amorites, &c., were extirpated for theirguilt towards Israel.
shall comerather,”came.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Israel was holiness unto the Lord,…. When first brought out of Egypt into the wilderness, by the Lord’s choice and separation of them to be a holy people to him above all others; by covenant with him, and profession of him; and by his giving them holy laws, and placing a sanctuary among them; and by their high priest, who represented them in the most holy place; and had on the front of his mitre written,
holiness unto the Lord; so the spiritual Israel are chosen in Christ to be holy, and he is made sanctification to them; they are sanctified in him, and by his Spirit; they are called with a holy calling, and unto holiness; and, under the influence of grace, live holy lives and conversations, which the grace of God teaches, and young converts are remarkable for; their consciences being just awakened, and their hearts tender:
and the firstfruits of his increase; Israel was the first nation that God separated for himself; and this being the firstfruits, shows that he would separate others also, and take out of the Gentiles a people for his name, which he has since done; and the elect of God among the Israelites were the firstfruits of his chosen ones elsewhere; it were some of them that first believed in Christ, and received the firstfruits of the Spirit; and all converted ones are a kind of firstfruits of his creatures; the grace they receive at conversion is the firstfruits of a later increase of it, and even of eternal glory:
all that devour him shall offend; or, “all that eat him shall be guilty” x; and be condemned and punished, who eat up the Lord’s people, as they eat bread; see Ps 53:4, these shall not go unpunished; for his people are as the apple of his eye, and whoever touches and hurts them fall under the divine displeasure, and will be looked upon as criminals and offenders, and will be judged and condemned as such. The allusion is to the eating of the firstfruits, which only belonged to the priests; nor might any of the increase be eaten until the firstfruits were brought to them, Le 23:10. This is expressed in the Chaldee paraphrase of the text,
“whosoever eats of them (the firstfruits) is guilty of death; for as the beginning of the harvest, the sheaf of oblation, whoever eats of it before the priests, the sons of Aaron, have offered of it upon the altar, shall be guilty or condemned; so all that spoil the house of Israel shall be guilty or condemned;”
so Jarchi and Kimchi:
evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord; that is, the evil of punishment, either in this world, or in that which is to come, or in both.
x “rcos fuisse”, Junius Tremellius “rei peragebantur”, Piscator; “rei fiunt”, Cocceius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
God here more clearly reprobates the ingratitude of the people: and first he enumerates his favors by which he had bound the people for ever to himself; and secondly, he shews how malignantly the people responded to the many blessings which they had received.
In saying, then, that Israel was holy, he intends it not by way of honor. It was indeed in itself an illustrious testimony to their praise, that God had consecrated that people to himself, that he designed them to be the first — fruits of his increase: but we must remember that there is here an implied contrast between this great and incomparable favor of God, and the wickedness of the people, who afterwards fell away from that God who had been so liberal and gracious to them. According to this view, then, does Jeremiah say, that Israel was holiness to God; that is, that they were separated from all other nations, so that the glory of God shone only among them.
He then adds, that they were the first-fruits of his produce For though whatever produce the earth may bring forth ought to be consecrated to God, by whose power it grows, yet we know that the first — fruits were gathered and set on the altar as a sacred food. As, then, God had commanded, under the law, the first-fruits to be offered to him, and then given to the priests, he says here, in accordance with that rite, that Israel were the first — fruits of his produce. For the nations, who then everywhere dwelt, were not removed from under God’s government (as he is the creator of all, and shews himself to all as the Father and supporter); but he passed by other nations, and chose the race of Abraham, and for this end, — that he might protect them by his power and aid. Since, then, God had so bound the nation to himself, how great and how strong was the obligation under which that people was to him? Hence the more base and the more detestable was their perfidy, when the people despised the singular favors which God had conferred on them. We now see why the Prophet says that Israel was holy to God, and the first — fruits of his increase.
He also intimates that the time would come, when God would gather to himself other nations; for in the first-fruits the people dedicated and offered to God the whole produce of the year is included. So then Israel was like the first-fruits, because God afterwards took to himself other nations, which for many ages were deemed profane. But yet his special object was to shew that the guilt of the people was extreme, as they did not acknowledge the great favors which God had bestowed on them.
He then adds, Whosoever will devour him shall be punished Of this meaning I approve, because the explanation immediately follows, evil shall come on them God then means not that they should be only guilty of a crime, who should devour the first-fruits, but refers rather to punishment; as though he had said, “The profane shall not be unpunished who shall devour the first-fruits which has been dedicated to me.” For if any had stolen the first- fruits, God would have executed a vengeance such as sacrilege deserved. If, however, any one prefers the other explanation, — that it would be a crime to injure Israel, or to do him any harm, because he was under God’s protection, I shall not oppose him: but the wording of the sentence leads me to the other view, that is, that those who would injure Israel would not only be guilty, but would not be able to escape God’s vengeance, — and why? because evil will come upon them, saith Jehovah (28) He afterwards explains more clearly the import of his doctrine —
(28) Blayney considers this verse as referring to Israel in ancient times, and as spoken by God: hence he renders the last words, “said Jehovah.” The first part seems to declare what Israel was, and the other appears to be the language of God respecting them, —
Holy was Israel to Jehovah, The first-fruits of his produce: “All his devourers shall be deemed guilty, Evil shall come to them,” said Jehovah.
The verb אשם is rendered “ πλημμελήσουσι — shall offend,” by the Septuagint, as in our version, and by Grotius; “trespass,” by Gataker; and, “guilty of a trespass,” by Blayney. The contradiction of guilt is what is meant, as the punishment is announced in the next words. See Psa 105:14. — Ed
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) Holiness unto the Lord.The thought was that expressed in the inscription on the gold plate worn on the high priests forehead (Exo. 28:36), and in the term holy thing (Lev. 22:10; Mat. 7:6), applied to the consecrated gifts which were the portion of the priests. The prophet was taught that Israel, as a nation, had a priestly character, and was consecrated to the Lord as the firstfruits of the great harvest of the world. Compare the use of the same figure in Jas. 1:18; Rom. 11:16.
All that devour him shall offend.The imagery of the firstfruits is continued. The Hebrew for the word offend is used for transgressions against the ceremonial law in Lev. 5:5; Lev. 5:19; Num. 5:7. Here, however, it is probably better rendered, shall be condemned, or shall be made to suffer, as in Psa. 34:21-22, where the Authorised version has shall be desolate. Those who devour Israelthe enemies and invaders, the tyrants and oppressorsare guilty as of a sacrilege that will not remain unpunished.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Holiness unto the Lord Their national motto, worn by the highpriest on his breastplate. Israel was the sanctuary of the nations; and those who should lay violent hands on her would bring upon themselves Jehovah’s curse as certainly as they who defile the sanctuary or seize the gift from the consecrated altar. “He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.”
Firstfruits God’s portion of the harvest a specimen and a pledge of the general ingathering. And so if Israel is the “firstfruits,” there is in this an implication that all the nations shall ultimately be the Lord’s. So are Christians the firstfruits of a redeemed universe. Rom 8:23.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 2:3. All that devour him shall offend Are trespassers, or shall rue it. Or, All who desired to destroy him were destroyed; evils came upon them. Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 2:3 Israel [was] holiness unto the LORD, [and] the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
Ver. 3. Israel was holiness unto the Lord. ] A people consecrated and set apart for his peculiar; Exo 19:5 Psa 114:2 holy with a federal holiness at least.
And the firstfruits of his increase.
All that devour them shall offend.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
holiness unto the LORD. Reference to Pentateuch (Exo 19:6).
the firstfruits, &c, which were consecrated. Ref to Pentateuch (Exo 23:19. Deu 18:4; Deu 26:10). App-92.
devour = devoured.
offend = be held guilty. Reference to Pentateuch (Lev 4:13, Lev 4:22, Lev 4:27; Lev 5:2, Lev 5:3, Lev 5:4, Lev 5:5, Lev 5:17, Lev 5:19; Lev 6:4. Num 5:6, Num 5:7). App-92.
evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra’a’, App-44. See note on Isa 45:7.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
holiness: Exo 19:5, Exo 19:6, Deu 7:6, Deu 14:2, Deu 26:19, Zec 14:20, Zec 14:21, Eph 1:4, 1Pe 2:9
the firstfruits: Exo 22:29, Exo 23:16, Num 18:12, Amo 6:1, *marg. Rom 11:16, Rom 16:5, Jam 1:18, Rev 14:4
all that: Jer 12:14, Jer 50:7, Exo 4:22, Exo 4:23, Psa 81:14, Psa 81:15, Psa 105:14, Psa 105:15, Psa 105:25-36, Isa 41:11, Isa 47:6, Joe 1:3, Joe 1:7, Joe 1:8, Zec 1:15, Zec 2:8, Zec 12:2-4, Act 9:4, Act 9:5
Reciprocal: Deu 26:2 – That thou shalt Psa 68:14 – General Isa 17:14 – the portion Jer 30:20 – and I Eze 16:8 – thy time Eze 23:4 – they were Hos 9:10 – found Zec 11:5 – hold Mal 2:11 – profaned Mal 3:4 – as Heb 6:10 – to forget Rev 2:5 – and do
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 2:3. Israel was holiness is rather a ceremonial term, meaning the nation had been accepted as a peculiar possession of the Lord. Firstfruits means she was regarded as the choice of products, even as a young husband will think his bride is the most desirable person in the world. Should anyone attempt to molest this bride he would be due some serious trouble. Offend is defined in the lexicon “to be guilty, and the person who would make any improper advances toward this bride would be deemed guilty and would be avenged by the husband.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2:3 Israel [was] {c} holiness to the LORD, [and] the firstfruits of his increase: all {d} that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
(c) Chosen above all others to serve the Lord only and the first offered to the Lord of all other nations.
(d) Whoever challenged this people, or else annoyed them, was punished.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
In those days Israel was set apart to the Lord in a way that she had not been since she entered the land and began to worship idols (cf. Exo 19:6; Exo 22:31). She was His firstfruits among the nations that He would bless (cf. Gen 12:1-3; Lev 23:10; Lev 23:17; Deu 26:1-11). The Lord punished peoples who tried to devour the Israelites then (e.g., the Egyptians and the Amalekites), just as He punished those who ate His firstfruits offerings without divine authorization (Lev 22:10; Lev 22:16).