FIRST FRUITS

FIRST FRUITS (primitiae), amongst the Hebrews, oblations to God of part of the fruits of the harvest, as an acknowledgment of his sovereign dominion. The first of these fruits was offered in the name of the whole nation, being either two loaves of bread, or a sheaf of barley which was thrashed in the court of the temple. Every private person was obliged to bring to the temple his first fruits, consisting of wheat, barley, grapes, figs, apricots, olives, and dates.

There was another kind of first fruits offered to God. When bread was kneaded in a family, a portion of it was set apart and given to the priest or Levite who dwelt in the place; but if there was no priest or Levite there, it was cast into the oven, and consumed by the fire. These offerings constituted a considerable part of the revenues of the Hebrew priesthood.

FIRST FRUITS are frequently mentioned by ancient Christian writers as forming part of the church revenue. One of the councils of Carthage enjoins that they should consist only of grapes and corn; which shows that this was the practice of the African church.