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ראשׁית קציר

The spring-time moed of Reishit Qatzir [Beginning of the Harvest] is also sometimes called Yom HaBikkurim [the Day of Firstfruits], and it occurs the day after the Sabbath during the week of the Chag HaMatzot. This moed teaches us that we should always put G-d first and honor Him since He set us free from bondage. In this moed, we can see the resurrection of Messiah as the "first fruit" of those who are asleep.

What does Scripture say about this festival, and what commandments are related to it? Oh, Lord, please "open our eyes" to see Messiah in this moed. Scripture was given to speak of Him, and we should listen and hear its voice... His voice... during these times.

What Scripture Says About Reishit Qatzir

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits [Hebrew: reishit, literally "beginning"] of your harvest [qatzir] to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD for you to be accepted; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.'" (Leviticus 23:9-11)

Who: All the sons of Israel. (Leviticus 23:10)

What:

Special commands

The sheaf [עמר, omer, plural omerim, {strongsH} Strong's #6016{/strongsH}] of the beginning of the harvest [reishit qatzir] shall be brought in to the priest (Leviticus 23:10).
The priest shall wave the sheaf before the LORD on behalf of the person who brings it so it is accepted (Leviticus 23:11).
Until this day (the day of the waving of the first fruit offering), you shall eat neither bread nor roasted grain nor new growth (Leviticus 23:14)
This is a perpetual statute throughout all generations in all dwelling places (Leviticus 23:14)
Begin counting the omer (Leviticus 23:15)

Offerings

A male lamb, one-year-old without defect, is given as a burnt offering to the LORD (Leviticus 23:12).
Its grain offering shall be two-tenths [of an ephah] of fine flour mixed with oil as an offering by fire to the LORD for a soothing aroma (Leviticus 23:13).
Its drink offering shall be a fourth of a hin of wine (Leviticus 23:13)

When: on the day after the Sabbath that falls during the week of Chag HaMatzot (Leviticus 23:11)

When you enter the Land which G-d is going to give to you (Leviticus 23:10)
When you reap the harvest of the Land (Leviticus 23:10)
On the day after the Sabbath (Leviticus 23:11)

Where: in the Land of Israel (Leviticus 23:10)

Other Observations

Pictures

The moed of Reishit Qatzir provides a picture of the physical need for a mediator between humanity and G-d. An individual cannot just take the first of his harvest and bring it and wave it before G-d. It must be brought to the priest, who must wave it (Leviticus 23:10-11). If the priest does not wave it, then it is not accepted.

This festival is also a picture of the spiritual mediator required between G-d and man. How can we, sinful creatures that we are, ever hope to even thank G-d for His blessing and bounty apart from some intercessor or connector between G-d and humankind? Fortunately, we have such a mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), intercessor (Romans 8:34), and connector (Romans 7:4)... the Messiah Yeshua. Even in our simplest act of thanksgiving, it is not us who goes before the throne of the Most High but our Redeemer and Savior Who does so on our behalf.

Since He is first and foremost in our mind, let's examine the moed for other pictures of the Messiah...

Details: One Messianic Gentile; 26 Apr 2015; April 23, 2024