After the feast of the passover the Jews brought a sheaf into the
temple, as the first fruits of the barley harvest, Lev. xxiii, 10, 12;
and these were the ceremonies that were then performed. On the 16th of
the month Nisan, in the evening, when the feast day of the passover was
ended, and the second day was begun, which was a working day, the house
of judgment deputed three men to go in solemnity, and gather the sheaf
of barley. The inhabitants of the neighbouring cities came together, to
be present at the ceremony. The barley was gathered in the territory of
Jerusalem. The deputies demanded three times successively if the sun was
set; and were as often answered that it was. Then they demanded three
times if they might be permitted to cut the sheaf, and permission was as
often granted. They reaped it out of three different fields, with three
different sickels, and put the ears into three boxes to carry to the
temple. This sheaf was threshed in the court; and of the grain they took
a full omer, and after it had been winnowed, parched, and bruised, they
sprinkled oil over it, and added a handful of incense; then the priest
who received the offering, waved it before the Lord to the four quarters
of the world, crosswise; he cast part of it upon the altar, and the rest
was his own. After this every one might begin to reap the harvest.
temple, as the first fruits of the barley harvest, Lev. xxiii, 10, 12;
and these were the ceremonies that were then performed. On the 16th of
the month Nisan, in the evening, when the feast day of the passover was
ended, and the second day was begun, which was a working day, the house
of judgment deputed three men to go in solemnity, and gather the sheaf
of barley. The inhabitants of the neighbouring cities came together, to
be present at the ceremony. The barley was gathered in the territory of
Jerusalem. The deputies demanded three times successively if the sun was
set; and were as often answered that it was. Then they demanded three
times if they might be permitted to cut the sheaf, and permission was as
often granted. They reaped it out of three different fields, with three
different sickels, and put the ears into three boxes to carry to the
temple. This sheaf was threshed in the court; and of the grain they took
a full omer, and after it had been winnowed, parched, and bruised, they
sprinkled oil over it, and added a handful of incense; then the priest
who received the offering, waved it before the Lord to the four quarters
of the world, crosswise; he cast part of it upon the altar, and the rest
was his own. After this every one might begin to reap the harvest.