If thou offer a meat-offering of thy first-fruits unto the Lord, &c.— This offering seems to have been of a private nature: a public and national one of the same sort is enjoined, ch. Leviticus 23:10, &c. Le Clerc thinks this ceremony was in commemoration of the most ancient food, when men had not yet learned the art of baking bread; but brayed or pounded the green corn, and eat it: in process of time, they learned to dry it, and grind it into flour, and so make bread of it. Pliny tells us, that Numa [the second king of Rome] appointed that the corn which was to be offered to the gods, should be parched; because he thought that the fire purified it, and so rendered it a more proper offering.
REFLECTIONS.—1. Honey and leaven are forbidden in all their offerings upon the altar, and salt commanded to be always sprinkled upon them. Hence we may learn, (1.) That they who serve God, must purge out the old leaven of malice and wickedness, and bring the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (2.) Unless the salt of Divine Grace be in our offerings, all that we can bring of our own will be unsavoury. (3.) Salt, being a symbol of friendship, intimates, that we should in all our offerings exercise faith in God as our reconciled Friend.
2. If the corn offered was from green ears, they must be the fairest in the field, dried and threshed out; to intimate, (1.) That our green days of infancy and youth should be devoted to God, and that God accepts with delight such offerings. (2.) The fire of zeal and fervency in religious duties is peculiarly becoming in youth.
Lastly, we may observe, that the blood of Jesus is the sweet frankincense to which we are indebted for every acceptable service.