Deuteronomy 26

King James Version

Full text for Deuteronomy Chapter 26

1¶ And it shall be, when thou [art] come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;

2That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put [it] in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.

3And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD sware unto our fathers for to give us.

4And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God.

5And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish [was] my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:

6And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:

7And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:

8And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:

9And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, [even] a land that floweth with milk and honey.

10And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:

11And thou shalt rejoice in every good [thing] which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that [is] among you.

12¶ When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, [which is] the year of tithing, and hast given [it] unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

13Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of [mine] house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten [them]:

14I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away [ought] thereof for [any] unclean [use], nor given [ought] thereof for the dead: [but] I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, [and] have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.

15Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

16¶ This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

17Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:

18And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that [thou] shouldest keep all his commandments;

19And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Deuteronomy 26 outlines two significant rituals for Israel upon entering the promised land: the presentation of firstfruits and the declaration after the third-year tithe. The firstfruits offering involves recounting God's deliverance from Egypt and His gift of the land, while the tithe declaration affirms faithful distribution to the needy. The chapter concludes with a mutual avowal of covenant, where Israel pledges obedience and God affirms their peculiar status and future exaltation among nations.

Medium Summary

Upon entering the promised land, Israelites are commanded to bring the first of their harvest to the place God chooses for His name. This offering is accompanied by a historical declaration, recounting their ancestor's humble origins as a "Syrian ready to perish," their sojourn and affliction in Egypt, and the Lord's mighty deliverance into a land flowing with milk and honey. This act serves as an expression of gratitude and worship, fostering rejoicing with the Levite and stranger. Furthermore, the chapter details the declaration to be made after distributing the third-year tithes to the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow, affirming adherence to God's commands regarding these hallowed things. The individual is to declare their faithfulness and then seek God's blessing upon Israel and the land. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the covenant relationship, where Israel avouches the Lord as their God and commits to obedience, and the Lord avouches Israel as His peculiar people, promising them praise, name, and honour above all nations, contingent on their holiness.

Long Summary

Deuteronomy chapter 26 establishes two distinct ceremonial obligations for the Israelites once they have settled in the land promised by the Lord. The first concerns the offering of firstfruits from the earth's produce. Upon bringing these firstfruits in a basket to the designated place, the Israelite is to approach the priest and declare their arrival in the land sworn to their fathers. Before the Lord, they are to recite a historical creed, beginning with their ancestor as a "Syrian ready to perish" who went down to Egypt with a small company and there grew into a great nation. This narrative recounts the Egyptians' oppression, Israel's cry to the Lord, and His powerful deliverance from bondage with signs and wonders. The declaration culminates in acknowledging God's gift of the land flowing with milk and honey and presenting the firstfruits as a token of gratitude, followed by worship and rejoicing with the Levite and the stranger. The second set of instructions pertains to the declaration made after completing the tithing of all increase in the third year, known as the year of tithing. After distributing these tithes to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, ensuring they are fed, the individual is to stand before the Lord and affirm their faithful adherence to these commands. They must declare that they have brought away the hallowed things from their house and distributed them correctly, not having eaten them in mourning, used them for unclean purposes, or given them for the dead, but rather have hearkened to God's voice. Following this affirmation, they are to pray for God to look down from heaven and bless His people Israel and the land. The chapter concludes with a powerful mutual covenantal avowal. On this day, the Lord commands Israel to diligently keep all His statutes and judgments with their whole heart and soul. Israel, in turn, avouches the Lord as their God, pledging to walk in His ways and obey His voice. Concurrently, the Lord avouches Israel as His peculiar people, promising to elevate them above all other nations in praise, name, and honour, so that they may be a holy people unto Him, fulfilling His spoken word.

Core Concepts

  • Firstfruits OfferingThe ritual of presenting the initial harvest to the Lord upon entering the promised land, accompanied by a declaration of God's historical deliverance and provision.
  • Historical CreedA prescribed declaration recited during the firstfruits offering, recounting Israel's humble origins, their affliction in Egypt, and God's mighty acts of redemption and gift of the land.
  • Third-Year TitheA specific tithe collected in the third year, designated for the support of the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, ensuring their sustenance within the community.
  • Covenant AvowalA mutual declaration between God and Israel, where Israel pledges obedience to God's commands with all their heart and soul, and God affirms Israel as His peculiar people, promising them exaltation among nations.
  • Rejoicing and InclusivityThe command to rejoice in God's blessings, specifically including the Levite and the stranger, highlighting the communal and inclusive nature of Israel's worship and prosperity.
  • Holiness and ObedienceThe ultimate purpose of Israel's peculiar status and future exaltation is contingent upon their commitment to keeping God's commandments and being a holy people unto the Lord.