Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Chapter 26
16
On this day, the Lord, your God, commands you to fulfill these norms and these commandments. Obey them now and put them into practice with all your heart and with all your soul.
17
Today, the Lord has declared to you that he will be your God, so you shall follow his ways, observe his norms, commandments, and laws, and listen to his voice.
18
Today, the Lord has declared that you will be his very own people even as he had promised you, and you must obey all his commandments.
19
He, for his part, will give you honor, renown, and glory, and set you high above all the nations he has made, and you will become a nation consecrated to the Lord, your God, as he has declared.
Commentaries
Ritual Prescriptions.
The so-called “Deuteronomic Code” (chapters 12-26) ends with specific ritual instructions related to presenting the first fruits (1-11) and distributing the triennial tithe (12-15).
The presentation of the first fruits is accompanied by the personal recitation of what, according to many critics, is considered the oldest creed in Israel. The first fruits of a harvest symbolize economic well-being and enjoyment of the land. Additionally, Israel must preserve the memory of their origins, recalling their history of oppression and slavery in Egypt, where the only one who “remembered” them and “heard” their cries was the Lord. Not only did he remember and listen, but he performed marvelous wonders to free them from Pharaoh’s power and lead them to live in freedom in a fertile land. Only in freedom can one offer both the fruits of the earth and a renewed conscience to the Lord—one capable of undertaking new acts of solidarity and justice each day. In this same spirit of presenting the first fruits to God, while not forgetting our neighbor, the law of sharing at least every three years a portion of the harvest with the Levite, the outsider, the orphan, and the widow is established (12). Abundance and prosperity should not cause us to forget society’s dispossessed, as they are the most valued in the heart of God; sharing with them is the clearest sign of blessing.
The chapter concludes with the declaration of the Covenant’s primary commitment (17-19), summarized by Israel’s duty to be God’s people and God’s promise to be Israel’s God.