Sifrei on Deuteronomy Sifrei Devarim 297

English · Shraga Silverstein

(Devarim 26:1) "And it shall be when you come to the land": Perform the mitzvah mentioned herein, in whose merit you are entering the land.

2

English · Shraga Silverstein

"the land which the L-rd your G-d gives to you": R. Shimon says: This excludes (from the mitzvah of bikkurim) the land across the Jordan, which they took for themselves.

3

English · Shraga Silverstein

"and you shall inherit it and dwell in it: As a reward for inheriting it (by driving out the nations) you shall dwell in it.

4

English · Shraga Silverstein

(Ibid. 2) "Then you shall take of the first of all the fruits of the earth": I might think that all the fruits are subject to the mitzvah of bikkurim; it is, therefore, written "of the first," and not all of the first. And I still would not know which are subject and which are not. I, therefore, reason: Communal bikkurim (the omer and the two breads) are mentioned elsewhere (viz. Vayikra 23:17), and individual bikkurim are mentioned here. Just as the communal meal-offerings, mentioned elsewhere (wheat and barley) are from the seven species, so, the individual offerings, mentioned here, are from the seven species. — But why not say: Just as there, (only) wheat and barley (are mentioned), here, too, wheat and barley! Whence are the others (of the seven species) to be derived? It is, therefore, written (Shemoth 34:26) "the bikkurim of your land," to include (all of the seven species mentioned in praise of your land). Since Scripture includes (i.e., all of the seven species) and excludes (five of them [in the instance of communal bikkurim]), you revert to the original (reasoning), viz.: Individual bikkurim are mentioned here, and communal bikkurim are mentioned elsewhere. Just as the communal bikkurim (wheat and barley) are of the seven species mentioned in praise of the land, so, the individual bikkurim are of the seven species mentioned in praise of the land. And they are (Ibid. 8:8) ("a land of) wheat, barley, grapevine, fig, and pomegranate, a land of olive-oil and honey."

5

English · Shraga Silverstein

"olive": the egori (medium-size) olive.

6

English · Shraga Silverstein

"honey": date-honey.

7

English · Shraga Silverstein

"of the first": even one cluster, even one fig, (there being no minimum requirement.)

8

English · Shraga Silverstein

"of all the fruits": You bring fruits as bikkurim, but not wine and oil. It he brought grapes and trod them (into wine), whence is it derived that it is valid? From "that you bring" (in any event).

9

English · Shraga Silverstein

"that you bring from your land": so long as they are found on the face of the land. I might think he may bring them before Shavuoth, it is, therefore, written (Shemoth 23:16) "And the feast of the harvest (Shavuoth) of the first-fruits of your work." From when do you bring? From Shavuoth until Channukah. I might think that you recite (the bikkurim formula) whenever you bring them; it is, therefore, written (Devarim 26:11) "and you shall rejoice": There is recitation only at the time of rejoicing, which implies: From Shavuoth until Succoth, one brings and recites; from Succoth until Channukah, one brings but does not recite. R. Yehudah b. Betheira says: He brings and recites.

10

English · Shraga Silverstein

If "from your land," I might think (that he may bring bikkurim) even if he plants in his (field) and engrafts into (another) individual's (field); or if (he plants) in a public field and engrafts from a public field; or from an individual's (field) into his own; or if he plants in his own and he engrafts into his own, with a public road or a private road intervening. It is, therefore, written (Shemoth 23:19) "the first-fruits or your soil" — All of the growths must be from your soil. For the same reason tenant-farmers, renters, holders of confiscated land, and robbers (of land) do not bring first-fruits.

Sifrei Devarim 297

Find your chapter.

Make yourself comfortable.

Choose your edition.