3. holiness unto the Lord--that is, was consecrated to
the service of Jehovah
(Ex 19:5, 6).
They thus answered to the motto on their high priest's breastplate,
"Holiness to the Lord"
(De 7:6; 14:2, 21).
first-fruits of his increase--that is, of Jehovah's produce. As the
first-fruits of the whole produce of the land were devoted to
God
(Ex 23:19;
Nu 18:12, 13),
so Israel was devoted to Him as the first-fruit and representative
nation among all nations. So the spiritual Israel
(Jas 1:18;
Re 14:4).
devour--carrying on the image of first-fruits which were eaten before the Lord by the priests as the Lord's representatives; all who
ate (injured) Jehovah's first-fruits (Israel), contracted guilt: for
example, Amalek, the Amorites, &c., were extirpated for their guilt
towards Israel.
shall come--rather, "came."
JFB.
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