Ver. 19. Thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, &c.— This would be better rendered, with the firstling of thy herd. Beside the firstling males, which were given to the priests, there were firstling females, which were first offered as peace-offerings to God, and then, after the priest had his share, the owner feasted upon the rest with his friends. See the next verse. Le Clerc, however, takes firstling here, as in other places, in a figurative sense, for the prime or select cattle; such as were only fit to be offered to God. The original word, rendered in the latter clause shear, as Calmet observes, signifies to pluck off: and Varro tells us, this was the method of fleecing sheep before that of shearing was found out. Prius lanae vulsuram, quam tonsuram inventam; and Pliny assures us, that the same custom still subsisted in his time, lib. 8: cap. 48.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, Every seventh year the servants who had sold themselves, &c. were discharged. Note; God's spiritual Israel are called to liberty; and though their ear is bored to serve their divine Master for ever, yet his service is their happy freedom.—If a servant was discharged, he must not be sent away empty, but supplied, according to his master's abilities, with the means to procure himself a future livelihood. Note; If our Master in heaven has been kind to us, in filling our cup with affluence, it is but reasonable that we should shew kindness to our poor tenants and servants, that so they may be made happy in our service.
2nd, We are now delivered from the burdensome rites of the ceremonial law; and all ceremonial distinctions have ceased: but one obligation remains perpetual, that we should offer up ourselves, as first-fruits, to God and to the Lamb, to be living sacrifices, employed in his work, and devoted to his glory.