The law prescribed no set quantity to be paid, either in the Biccurim or in the Theruma; but, by tradition, they were taught to pay at least the sixtieth part in both, even in those seven things, also paid under the name of Biccurim, or first fruits, as well as in their heave-offering termed Theruma, or Theruma gedola.
Thus the Talmudists do distinguish the Biccurim from the Theruma gedola: but in my opinion the Biccurim may be contained under Theruma gedola; and in truth, both of them are nothing else but the heave-offering of the floor, formerly mentioned out of Num. 15. 20. My reasons are these: 1. Scripture giveth no such leave to keep any part of their first-fruits at home; if that could be proved, the distinction were warrantable. 2. Scripture doth not limit first fruits unto those seven kinds, which alone go under the name of Biccurim. 3. Themselves confound both members; for their Biccurim, they say, they paid, 1. Wheat. 2. Barley. In their Theruma, they say, they paid Corn; as if under Corn; Wheat and Barley were not contained. Some may say, they paid their Biccurim in the Ear, while the harvest was yet standing and their Theruma in Wheat and Barley ready threshed and winnowed. My reasons why it cannot be so, are these: 1. Because then they should pay twice a sixtieth part in their corn. 2. Because the corn offered in the sheaf was but a little quantity, and it was offered not at their Pentecost when their harvest ended, but at their Passover when their harvest began, Levit. 23. 10. Whereas their Biccurim, or first fruits, were alwayes offered at their Pentecost.
But omitting further proofs, I proceed to shew the ground, why in this heave-offering of the floor, at least a sixtieth part was prescribed: it is grounded upon that of the Prophet Ezek. This is the oblation that ye shall offer, the sixth part of an Ephah out of an Homer, Ezek. 45. 13. that is, the sixtieth part of the whole, because an Homer containeth ten Ephahs. Hence they took that distinction of these offerings. Some[641] they say, gave the fortieth part of their encrease: this, because it was the greatest quantity given in this kind of oblations, they termed Theruma oculi boni,[642] The oblation of a fair eye: others (though they were not so liberal as the former, yet they might not be reputed niggardly) gave a fiftieth part, and this they termed Theruma mediana,[643] The oblation of a middle eye: others, whom they reputed sordid, gave just a sixtieth part, less then which they could not give, this they termed Theruma oculi mali,[644] The oblation of an evill eye; so that the payment of these was bounded by the tradition of the Elders, between the sixtieth and the fortieth part: But the Pharisees[645] that they might be holy above others, made their bounds the fiftieth and the thirtieth part; so that he was reputed sordid with them that paid the fiftieth part; and none liberal except he paid the thirtieth. The manner how these first-fruites termed Biccurim were paid, is at large set down, Deut. 26. But in time of the Prophets other Ceremonies seem to have been received, of which the Hebrew Docters say thus:[646] When they carried up their first-fruits, all the Cities that were in a county gathered together to the chief City of the county to the end that they might not go up alone: for it is said, In the multitude of people is the Kings honour, Prov. 14. 28. And they came and lodged all night in the streets of the City, and went not into houses, for fear of pollution: and in the morning the Governor said, Arise, and let us go up to Sion, the City of the Lord our God. And before them went a Bull which had his horns covered with Gold, and an Olive Garland on his head, to signifie the first fruits of the seven kinds of fruits. There was likewise a pipe struck up before them, untill they came near to Jerusalem and all the way as they went, they sung, I rejoyced in them that said unto me, we will go into the house of the Lord, &c. Psal. 122. Unto this, and other like manner of solemn Assemblies the Prophet hath reference, saying, Ye shall have a song as in a night when a holy solemnity is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come unto the mountain of the Lord, Esay. 30. 29.
[641] Solom. Jarchi. Deut. 18. 4. Item Hieron. in Ezek. 45. fol. 260.
[642] תרומה עין יפה Theruma gnaiin jopha.
[643] תרומה בינונית Theruma benonith.
[644] תרומה עין רעה Theruma gnajin ragna.
[645] Epiphan. contr. Pharis. pag. 11.
[646] Maimon. in Biccurim. cap. 4. sect. 16.
The firstlings, or first-born of man and beast, the Lord challenged as his own, Exod. 13. The ground of this Law was, because God smote all the first-born in Egypt from man to beast, but spared the Israelites; for a perpetual memory of which benefit, he commanded them to sanctifie all their first-born males unto him. Now the first born men, and unclean beasts, were redeemed for five silver shekels of the sanctuary, paid unto the Priests for each of them, Numb. 18. 15, 16. Unto this S. Peter alludeth saying, We are not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, 1 Pet. 1. 18. The firstlings of a clean beasts ought to be sacrificed, their blood to be sprinkled on the Altar, their fat to be burnt for a burnt-offering, and their flesh to return to the Priests.