Paths in Biblical Studies

Book of Deuteronomy · Chapter 26 of 34

Deuteronomy 26: Verse-by-Verse Commentary (with Videos)

19 verses · 3 video commentaries from 3 courses · Berean Standard Bible

1When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and settle in it,

2you are to take some of the firstfruits of all your produce from the soil of the land that the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name,

3to the priest who is serving at that time, and say to him, “I declare today to the LORD your God that I have entered the land that the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.”

4Then the priest shall take the basket from your hands and place it before the altar of the LORD your God,

5and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty and numerous.

6But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor.

7So we called out to the LORD, the God of our fathers; and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, toil, and oppression.

8Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, signs, and wonders.

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

10And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land that You, O LORD, have given me.” Then you are to place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before Him.

11So you shall rejoice—you, the Levite, and the foreigner dwelling among you—in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household.

12When you have finished laying aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you are to give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat and be filled within your gates.

13Then you shall declare in the presence of the LORD your God, “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all the commandments You have given me. I have not transgressed or forgotten Your commandments.

14I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while in mourning, or removed any of it while unclean, or offered any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything You commanded me.

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

16The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these statutes and ordinances. You must be careful to follow them with all your heart and with all your soul.

17Today you have proclaimed that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in His ways, keep His statutes and commandments and ordinances, and listen to His voice.

18And today the LORD has proclaimed that you are His people and treasured possession as He promised, that you are to keep all His commandments,

19that He will set you high in praise and name and honor above all the nations He has made, and that you will be a holy people to the LORD your God, as He has promised.

Deuteronomy 26 Section and Chapter Commentary

Deut 26:1-19

Joshua's Farewell Speeches Echo Moses' Warnings

Joshua's farewell speeches at the end of his life strongly echo Moses' final addresses in Deuteronomy. In Joshua 23, Joshua warns the Israelites to obey Moses' laws and avoid intermingling with Canaanites, lest they face divine punishment. Joshua 24 presents a historical summary and a choice to serve the Lord, mirroring Moses' historical review and the choice between blessing and curse in Deuteronomy 26 and 30.

Summarized by AI · The Rise and Fall of Biblical Israel: The Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings · Lecture 2: Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan | Too Good to Be True · watch the clip

Deuteronomy 26 Verse Notes

Deut 26:1

First Fruits as a Reminder of God's Provision

The laws regarding first fruits require Israelites to bring the initial harvest to the temple and recite a creed acknowledging God's role in their entry into the land and their prosperity. This ritual serves as an annual reminder that their occupation of the land and their harvest are direct blessings from God, reinforcing the theological rationale for obeying all the laws.

Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 10: Deuteronomy | Let's Run That Back · watch the clip

Deut 26:5

First Fruits as a Reminder of God's Provision

The laws regarding first fruits require Israelites to bring the initial harvest to the temple and recite a creed acknowledging God's role in their entry into the land and their prosperity. This ritual serves as an annual reminder that their occupation of the land and their harvest are direct blessings from God, reinforcing the theological rationale for obeying all the laws.

Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 10: Deuteronomy | Let's Run That Back · watch the clip

Deut 26:14

Food offerings to the dead in ancient Israel

The Hebrew Bible, though focused on state ideology, provides evidence of practices similar to Mesopotamia, such as offering food to the dead. Deuteronomy 26:14, by stating 'nor have I offered any of it to the dead,' implies that this was a current practice among Israelites, indicating a shared custom of providing sustenance for deceased relatives.

Summarized by AI · Before the Bible: Mesopotamia and the Myths that Shaped Scripture · Lecture 2: From Gilgamesh to Genesis · watch the clip

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