Yom Bikkurim or the Day of Firstfruits
This Feast of Firstfruits in Hebrew is referred to as Yom HaBikkurim (meaning the Day of the First ripe fruits of a crop) or the Day of the Wave Sheaf. On this day, the cohen (aka priests) would wave a sheaf of the first fruits of the barley harvest before Yehovah. According to Batya Wootten in her book “Israel’s Feasts and their Fullness,” this would be the “first offering of the year.” Prior to entering the land of Canaan, the Children of Promise could not observe this day as they had no crops in which to harvest and Yehovah was providing them manna for food.
Sheaves were first mentioned in Scripture as depicted in the story of Joseph who dreamed about 11-sheaves (or 11 bundles of barley) interpreted as Joseph’s brothers that bowed down before one sheaf (or 1 bundle of barley) interpreted as being Joseph himself. The telling of this dream to his family along with the dotting that Jacob did over Joseph caused Joseph to be sold into slavery. As we recall the story, Joseph ends up in Egypt and through a series of incidents years later become the 2nd most powerful man in Egypt. The dream that Joseph had about the 11-sheaves bowing before the 1-sheaf would be fulfilled in the homage that Joseph’s brother would pay Joseph when they migrated to the land of Egypt to escape the famine. Thus “sheaves” or a “sheaf” can be representative of people or a person respectively.
On Yom Bikkurim, the person who would bring his firstfruit offering to the Temple and present it to the cohen to be waved before Yehovah, would tie a batch of wheat or barley into a single bundle. Each sheaf was called an “omer,” a derivative of “amar” which according to Wootten means “to chastise, as if piling blows, to gather grain and bind sheaves together.”
As we saw in the Feasts of Pesach (or Passover Day) and Unleavened Bread, Yom Bikkurim was a shadow picture of good things to come (Heb 10:1). The actual day of Firstfruits was to be a reminder to all that the first of the year’s increase or produce belonged to Yehovah. This would include produce, cattle, money and sons. These “firsts” were deemed “holy” (or kodesh) by Yehovah. Thus being deemed “holy,” they belonged to Yehovah exclusively.
In addition to being the first of the firstfruits of their harvest, the Children of Promise were responsible for ensuring that these firsts were “the choicest of all.” (Wootten) The giving of the firstfruits was to be done with praise and thanksgiving.
Many may be confused that this harvest, this presentation of the firstfruits of the year was generally taking place each year during what would translate as our months of March or April. However, we must always be cognizant that our reckoning of time is not the same as the Father’s reckoning of time. Yehovah described and instituted His reckoning of time or calendar for the Children of Israel in the Book of Exodus, citing that the first day of the month of the Aviv was to be “New Year’s Day” for His people. We here in the west, and even the Jews, have taken upon ourselves to erect calendars that do not match that of the Creator’s calendar. For the Jew, New Year’s Day is Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement which is during the fall of the year, typically September/October time frame. Yehovah never ever sanctioned the Day of Atonement to be the first of the year. In fact, He was quite explicit:
NAS Exodus 12:1 ¶ Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of 1Egypt, 2 a“This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you. (Exo 12:1-2 NAS) This passage does not indicate which month it was. But a subsequent passages in the same book does provide the month in question: 4 “On this day in the amonth of Abib, you are about to go forth. (Exo 13:4 NAS) 15 “You shall observe athe Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the bmonth Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. And 1cnone shall appear before Me empty-handed. (Exo 23:15 NAS) 18 ¶ “You shall observe athe Feast of Unleavened Bread. For bseven days you are to eat unleavened bread, 1as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the cmonth of Abib, for in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt. (Exo 34:18 NAS)
The rest of the world acknowledges New Year’s Day as being on January 1st each year, dead in the middle of winter. Thus the world as a whole has lost a crucial element as it relates to their relationship with the Creator. Yehovah created time. Man and the world He lives in operates within the confines of time. According to Scott Laird in his introduction to the 6015 ‘Astronomically and Agriculturally Corrected Biblical Hebrew Calendar,’ “Time is the ultimate context.” Indeed it is. Yehovah set His Feasts to occur during specific times of His calendar year. Yehovah instructed Moshe as follows: “Speak to the sons of Isra’el, and say to them, ‘The LORD’S appointed times (or mo’ed) which you shall proclaim as holy convocations” (Lev 23:2). Each mo’ed was specifically and carefully woven into the fabric of time by the Creator and is dependent upon the sighting of the renewed moon each month as well as the agricultural state of the land of Canaan. Unfortunately, once the temple was destroyed in 68 C.E. and the Jews scattered throughout the world, Yehovah’s reckoning of time fell upon hard times and men decided to make their own calendars–although the pagan world had already begun jacking around with the Creator’s calendar and Yehovah reckoning of time centuries before–e.g., the Romans and the Julian calendar).
As true Torah honoring-believers in Yeshua Messiah, we have embarked upon a lifestyle that hearkens back some 3-1/2 millennia. It is a lifestyle that takes us back to the roots of our Faith whereby we adhere to the rules established by the Creator for our righteous living. And not to be left lacking, the Creator in His infinite wisdom provided us not only a sacrifice that would repair the breech, that broken relationship that existed between mankind and Yehovah, but also provided us a perfect example of how to apply His laws and commandments to our day-to-day lives. Part and parcel of living according to the Creator’s principles and directives is for us to honor and celebrate His Feasts, His appointed times throughout the Biblical Calendar year. These Feasts are not just select days to have a party, but are rehearsals and reminders of key events that occurred in the lives of our forefathers who sojourned in the Sinai Wilderness and then in the Land of Canaan. These are not just reenactments of those key events in the history of Israel that occurred so long ago, but are also prophetic pictures of mankind’s redemption and mankind’s ultimate potential that will manifested in the coming Kingdom of Yehovah. The Creator’s calendar when properly followed, forces us to focus on where we’ve come from, where we are now and where we’re heading. It keeps us grounded in His Word as we search the Scriptures each year to mine for those kernels, those nuggets of spiritual truths that enrich our lives and cause us to grow and walk in the fullness of Yeshua Messiah. Yom Bikkurim is another one of those great celebrations embedded in the Creator’s calendar that provide us the opportunity to honor Yehovah for the things He has done for us and the things He will do for us in the future.
How sad for the rest of the world that they remain blind to the rich truths that are contained in the Father’s Feasts. That blindness, brought about in part by a hatred for God and His Torah as well as a hatred of anything having to do with the Jews, has led men to abandon the Creator’s calendar and His appointed Feasts for a pagan-based reckoning of time with its associated feasts. How brilliantly evil is the enemy to replace that which the Creator instituted with a cheap knock off that the world will fight to the death to defend. Have you not experienced challenges to your celebrating the Feasts of Yehovah and your rejection of the pagan horror-days of Easter and Christmas? I have and it’s very disconcerting. No matter how much detail I provide; no matter how I press to show to the unbeliever the relevance of Yehovah’s Feasts in their lives, the angrier and the more turned off the unbeliever gets. Despite how much evidence we can provide the unbeliever as to the pagan origins of their horror-days, the unbeliever remains married to their feasts of hasatan. It’s not just blinders my friends; it’s spiritual bondage. Even those who experience a partial release from their blindness, are still unable to break free from the draw of these pagan feasts. Try to break an unbeliever from his/her celebration of Christmas for example–it’s virtually impossible without direct intervention by Yehovah’s precious Ruach Kodesh. But let us not dread over being such a small flock and being such a pariah to the world. There is a move afoot in this world today whereby the scales are falling from unbelievers’ eyes and the Ruach Kodesh is freeing more and more unbelievers from the bondage of religion and secularism. The Feasts of Yehovah are slowly being accepted in several mainstream Christian denominations. I came across on the internet a few weeks ago, a “YouTube” video of Jim Baker and his wife, interviewing a Messianic preacher about the prophetic shadow pictures of Passover. I didn’t watch the entire episode, but there were dozens of people in the audience who seemed perched on the edge of their seats as this man of God delineated to Baker and his wife about the significance of Passover to the Christian believer. Baker himself appeared dumbfounded about the many prophetic shadow pictures associated with Passover and the relevance of Passover for the Christian believer today. I don’t know if Baker and his followers will break away from traditional churchainity for the Hebraic Roots of the Christian Faith anytime soon, but suffice to say that the seed was planted and just maybe some of those attending as well as some watching will be convicted and come over to the true faith once delivered. Amein!
Indeed, we have work to do. It’s not enough for us to stay locked up in our own little homes or in our congregations celebrating the Feasts each year. Indeed, as disciples of Yeshua Messiah and Yehovah’s redeemed, we are compelled to honor the Feasts of Yehovah because of our love for Abba and our desire to please Him in every possible way. Our older brother Yeshua Messiah–the Firstfruits of Yehovah’s human harvest of sons and daughters–commanded His disciples and us to : “Go! Teach all nations to carry out all the things that I have commanded you forever” (Rood translation–Mat 28:19, 20). How often have we read this particular passage and never truly gotten a full understanding of what Yeshua was commanding us to do. Denominationalism reads into this passage as “go forth and get people saved!” Despite the fact that nowhere in these 2-verses of Matthew has Yeshua commanded us to “evangelize” and get people saved, churchianity interprets the Great Commission as being just that–getting folks saved. Praise Yehovah, however, we are taught to read Yehovah’s Word without denominational glasses, but with purity of heart, the leading of the Ruach Kodesh and in truth. Thus, the Great Commission is about teaching the world to conform to Yehovah’s instructions for man’s life as demonstrated by His Son, Yeshua Messiah. It’s about teaching the world to abandon their religious and secular ways of life for a life devoted to doing things God’s way, and that includes honoring and obeying His Torah and Feasts Days. What a great vocation. There has been no other assignment ever given to men with so great a purpose.
The Day of the Wave Sheaf–Yom HaBikkurim
The following are specifics related to the Day of Firstfruits or Yom Bikkurim:
- this was to begin once the children of promise entered into the land and began to reap a harvest
- the first of their firstfruits the children of promise were to bring into the house of Yehovah (Exo 23:19; 34:26)
- the children of promise were told not to delay to offer the first of their firstfruits, including their firstborn of their sons (Exo 22:29)
- the children of promise were commanded to observe firstfruits (Exo 34:22)
- when the first of the firstfruits was presented to the priest (the sons of Aaron) in the temple/tent of meeting, the sheaf of wheat/barley was to be waved before Yehovah to “be accepted for you”–that is “ratson” which means in Hebrew to be a pleasure, favor, delight (Exo 29:24; Lev 23:11)
- Firstfruits was to take place on day after the Sabbath during the week of Unleavened Bread (Lev 23:11)
- Yehovah deemed the firstfruit to be holy (Rom 11:16)
- In addition to providing a sheaf of the firstfruits to the cohen to wave before Yehovah on behalf the family offering the firstfruit, the family was to bring a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering (Lev 23:12)
Thus we have somewhat of a conundrum in front of us: we do not reside in the land of Canaan, nor does the Temple exist today. Yom HaBikkurim is a Feast Day that is sandwiched in the midst of the 2-high Sabbaths of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It should be noted, however, that this particular year, the first day of Unleavened Bread fell on a Sunday or the 1st day of the week, and the last day of Unleavened Bread falls on Saturday or the weekly Sabbath. The Day of Firstfruits always occurs on a Sunday within the midst of the 7-day celebration and observance of Unleavened Bread. This year, then, the only place that Firsfruits could occur are the 1st day of Unleavened Bread that occurred last Sunday, if we are to stay true to the Day of Firstfruits occurring in the midst of Unleavened Bread. Torah scholar Nehemiah Gordon and Arthur Bailey and his ministerial staff have concluded that this is the proper date for Yom HaBikkurim this year. Both camps based their assessment and determination for the date to observe Firstfruits on a careful but strict read of Torah. However, Michael Rood, the developer and producer of the Astronomically and Agriculturally Corrected Biblical Hebrew Calendar contends that Yom HaBikkurim this year could only fall outside the 7-day period of Unleavened Bread and on the very next Sunday or 1st day of the week, which will be this coming Sunday, the 12th of April. Michael’s determination on the date to observe Yom HaBikkurim this year is based upon Hebrew practices during the time of the Temple in addition to precepts contained in the Torah. During Temple times, at sundown after the one weekly Sabbath that occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the men of Israel would go to the fields with sickle in hand, cut the first fruits of the barley and wheat harvest, bundle them into sheaves and prepare them to be taken to the Temple the next day. The next day the sheaves would be taken by the men to the Temple, given to the cohen as directed by Yehovah in His Torah, and the cohen would wave the sheaves before Yehovah on behalf of the people offering the sheaves. The harvesting of the wheat and barley from the fields could only be done after the sun has set after the weekly Sabbath during the Week of Unleavened Bread. The harvesting could not be done during the day on Sabbath because we are commanded not to perform any work during the Sabbath. Thus we waited for the sun to set and likely with lamps and torches, we harvested the barley and wheat in preparation for the Temple ceremony the next day which was Yom HaBikkurim. Thus, Michael believes that given that last Sabbath was Passover Day or Pesach, then Sunday was the first day of Unleavened Bread (a high Sabbath) in which no work could be done, the only logical time in which to celebrate or honor the Day of Firstfruits is Sunday the 12th of April. If we were living in the land of Israel during the time of Temple operations, we would observe the weekly Sabbath, which this year would also be the last day of Unleavened Bread (a high Sabbath), and at sundown we could go to the fields and gather the sheaves for Sunday’s Firstfruits offerings. I tend to agree with Michael on this determination. I, however, do not believe this to be an issue that should spark any debate or contention within the community of Messianic Believers. We do the best we can with the information we have available to us and with the leading of the Rauch Kodesh. In this case, our community will observe Yom HaBikkurim on one of 2-days. We will have a problem, however, as to when Shavuot will hit since that day is based upon the counting of the omer and the 50-days from Firstfruits Day. Again, I believe we’ll just have to make due with whatever day we arrive at based upon which Firstfruits day we elect to celebrate.
Yom HaBikkurim–A Shadow Picture of Redemption and Salvation
As it was with Pesach and Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits or Yom HaBikkurim at the time the Children of Promise were residing in Canann and during early Temple operations, was full of prophetic shadow pictures of good things to come. As I mentioned earlier in this episode, a sheaf can depict a person as well as sheaves may depict people. 1500-1200-years after Yehovah commanded the Children of Promise to observe Yom HaBikkurim, Yeshua Messiah died on the stake for our sins. According to Michael Rood’s Chronological Gospels, the Savior’s cruicifixion occurred on Pesach, which at that time took place on Wednesday, April 28, 28 C.E. (reference Joh 19:13-15) Thus the shadow picture of Pesach depicts Yeshua as the Lamb of Yehovah that was slain for the sins of the world, even before the foundations of the earth were laid (Rev 13:8). Prior to sundown that same day, Yoseph of Aramathea, disciple of Yeshua, requested the remains of Yeshua for purposes of providing the Master with a proper burial of sorts. Granted permission to do so by Pontius Pilate, Yeshua was hastily laid to rest in Yoseph’s personal tomb, having not received the traditional preparations for burial afforded to Jews at death. Sundown was looming and it was imperative that Yoseph got Yeshua’s remains into the tomb as quickly as possible or else Yeshua’s remains would likely remain on the stake throughout the night and even throughout the next day. Sundown that evening began the first day of Unleavened Bread, Thursday April 29th, 28 C.E. Considered a High Sabbath, all was still in Yerushalayim that day and there was no activity apart from the Sanhedrin requesting of Pilate that a Roman guard be posted at Yeshua’s tomb, which Pilate granted. The next day would have been Friday, April the 30th, the 2nd day of Unleavened Bread, but a preparation day for the weekly Sabbath that would begin at sundown. Thus the women went out to purchase spices and oils to prepare the Savior’s remains. The weekly Sabbath commenced at sundown, which would have been Saturday, May 1, 28 C.E. The city of Yerushalayim was once again at rest. Throughout the entire morning and into early and mid-afternoon, Yeshua’s body remained in the sealed tomb.
According to Yeshua’s own prophecy, He arose from the grave late that Sabbath afternoon, just prior to sundown and the start of Yom HaBikkurim. As recorded in Rood’s Chronological Gospels, “Yeshua arose from the grave ‘on the 3rd day’ after His burial. Thus the resurrection transpired on the weekly Sabbath.”
NAS Matthew 12:40 for just as aJonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall bthe Son of Man be cthree days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Mat 12:40 NAS)
Contrary to the traditionals and basic elementary-school arithmetic skills, the Master did not nor could he have died late on a Friday afternoon and then resurrect about 45-hours later. That year Pesach fell on a Wednesday and given that the Feasts are all prophetic shadow pictures of good things to come, it stands to reason that Yeshua was also crucified on that very same Wednesday that Pesach fell upon. The weekly Sabbath passed at sundown and Yom HaBikkurim would begin that year on Sunday, May 2nd. It was around dawn that day, and incidents were occurring fast and furious. Yeshua had already resurrected from the dead the previous afternoon just before sunset in accordance to His 3-days and 3-nights in the earth prophecy of Himself. Matthew 27:52, 53 record that the bodies of many saints who slept in their graves arose and came out of their graves and went into the Holy City of Yerushalayim, appearing to many. The Roman guard that was posted at the grave site were frightened by the appearance of an angel who rolled the stone from the tomb opening. (reference Mat 28:2-4). Miriam of Migdal finds the tomb empty as she ventured to the tomb before sun-up on that same day. Miriam informs Kefa and Yochanan of the empty tomb.(reference Joh 20:1-10) Both disciples respond to the tomb and confirm that it was indeed empty just as Miriam had said. Miraim has an amazing encounter with the newly risen Messiah. Seeing Yeshua, Miriam makes a move to embrace the Savior but is told by Yeshua not to touch Him as He had yet to ascend to His Father. (reference Joh 20:11-17) Soon after His encounter with Miriam of Migdol, all indications are that Yeshua ascended to heaven, to the Holy of Holies, sprinkled His blood upon the mercy seat, and presented Himself to the Father. Praise Yehovah, the head of satan had been crushed and sin forever atoned for.
Now during this time in Yerushalayim, the Temple was alive with the waving of the sheaves by Temple priests. These sheaves were the firstfruits of the people, deemed holy by Yehovah. In heaven around the same time, Yeshua was the firstfruit offered to the Father. Thus Yeshua fulfilled His role as the “Cohen Gadol,” the High Priest, after the order of the Melek Tzadek.
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
According to Rood, in addition to Yeshua being the firstfruit of the human race, those saints who rose from the dead at Yeshua’s resurrection were also presented to Yehovah by Yeshua as firstfruits.I don’t know about you, but I believe Rood to be correct. Indeed, this is not found in our Bibles, but it makes sense. Where would those resurrected saints go otherwise and whatever would have happened to them after they appeared in Yerushalayim? Rood’s explanation for what happened to these folks is the only one ever offered that makes sense to me. The only other question I have on this issue is, who were these resurrected saints? Only time will tell. Hallelujah.
So What do we do with Yom HaBikkurim?
Thus Yom HaBikkurim celebrates Yeshua’s ascension to heaven where He presented Himself before Yehovah as the first of many who would become true sons and daughters of Yehovah for all eternity–NAS Hebrews 2:10 ¶ For ait was fitting for Him, bfor whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to cperfect the 1dauthor of their salvation through sufferings. (Heb 2:10 NAS) How wonderful is it to celebrate such an amazing day with its tremendous symbolism. We are truly blessed.
But what does a 21st century believer in Yeshua Messiah do with Yom HaBikkurim? There is no Temple in existence. Getting sheaves of barley or wheat is pretty difficult, especially given that the vast majority of us living in the West are not barley or wheat farmers. It’s not one of those Feasts of Yehovah that is considered a holy convocation with a work prohibition. So it’s sort of like Hanukkah and Purim–celebrations with a historic lesson and a prophetic shadow picture to gleen. The difference being that Firstfruits is actually named among the 7-mandated Feasts (i.e., Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles and Last Great Day).
Some Hebraic Roots-based ministries celebrate this Feast by offering their followers or listeners [that day] to send in a special offering that would imitate a Firstfruits offering. Hilary and I had an interesting conversation about this yesterday morning, specifically regarding the Biblical basis of having one’s listeners and followers donate money to your ministry specifically on Firstfruits. On the surface this seems like a reasonable compromise for observance of Firstfruits given the absence of the Temple service today. Indeed, giving of the firstfruits of our increase is the physical–historical focus (if you will) of this particular feast. But then, are we actually celebrating the spiritual meaning of the feast which is Yeshua being the first of many sons and daughters who have been harvested and will reign with the Father and Son for all eternity? For me, something seems to get lost when we start to focus on sending in special offerings on this particular day. It’s like some Messianic groups whose focus is on Jewish seders during Passover. Yeshua provided us a renewed focus for Passover in the after-shadow of the ancient Passover observance. Indeed, there’s nothing wrong with having traditions associated with Feasts celebrations and we are commanded to remember the Exodus story when we celebrate Passover. But we must also be equally cognizant of the renewed covenant in Yeshua Messiah when we celebrate Passover. So as it relates to giving of our increase on the Day of Firstfruits, it would seem to me to be a decent gesture in commemoration of that day. However, I think we have to be careful to not lead folks along a path of thinking that replaces the entire Biblical and spiritual purpose and focus of Firstfruits with the day being an opportunity for ministries to bring money into their coffers. I have a fear that having such a bent (although probably not intentional), will only move our Faith closer to that of churchianity. Again, this is just my opinion and should only be taken as that.
So, to answer the question: celebrating Yom HaBikkurim should at least be a day of prayer, praise and acknowledgment–acknowledgment that Yehovah is the source of our being and all that we have. Additionally, it should be a day to seriously consider the tremendous potential being afforded to mankind through the work of Yeshua Messiah. We have the potential of being sons and daughters of the Most High–to be made just like our older brother Yeshua HaMaschiyach. That should be at the very least the focus of the day and if we elect to send in some moneys to one or more of the ministries that bless us throughout the year, then by all means–give with the greatest of pleasure and praise.
With that, I pray and trust that you will have a blessed Day of Firstfruits–Yom HaBikkurim. Thank you for taking the time out your busy schedule to listen to this episode of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections. Now we begin the 50-days count to Shavuot, Pentecost. Let us spend this 50-days spiritually preparing to receive the Shavuot. We’ll be here, good Lord willing, to bring you more stuff that will hopefully aid you in your walk in Yeshua Messiah. Until next time, may Yehovah bless you, and keep you and your family: may Yehovah make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: and may Yehovah lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. In the name of Yeshua HaMaschiyach, our soon coming King, Amein and Amein. Stay blessed Saints! Shalom!