As uncircumcised, i.e. as unclean, not to be eaten, but cast away, and counted abominable, as the foreskins are. Three years. This precept was serviceable,
1. To the trees themselves, which grew the better and faster, being early stript of those fruits, which otherwise would have derived to themselves and drawn away much more of the strength from the root and tree.
2. To men, both because the fruit then was waterish, undigested, and unwholesome, and because hereby men were taught to bridle their appetites; a lesson of great use and absolute necessity in a godly life.
3. To God, who required and deserved the first-fruits, which must be also of the best, and so they could not be in this time.