Matthew Poole and continuators on Deuteronomy 12:6

6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices , and your tithes h, and heave-offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your free-will-offerings , and the firstlings of your herds, and of your flocks .

Which were wisely appropriated to th[illegible: 1+ letters] one and publick place, partly for the security of the true religion, and for the prevention of Idolatry and superstition, which otherwise might more easily have crept in: and partly to signify that their sacrifices were not accepted for their own worth, but by Gods gracious appointment and for the sake of Gods altar by which they were sanctified, and for the sake of Christ▪ whom the Altar did manifestly represent. Of which see below on [illegible: 1 word]. 17.

(i. e.) Your first-fruits, to [illegible: 1 word], of the earth, as of corn and wine and oyl and other fruits, as plainl[illegible: 1+ letters] appears by comparing this place with Deut. 18. 4. and 26. 2. where these are commanded to be brought thither, and seeing here is an exact and particular enumeration of all such things▪ and these cannot be put under any of the other branches▪ these must needs be intended here, the rather, because the other kind of first-fruits, to wit, of the [illegible: 1 word] and [illegible: 1 word] ▪ are here expressely mentioned. And these are called here [illegible: 1 word], because the offerer was [illegible: 1+ letters]irst to take these into his own hands, and to heave them before the lord (as other [illegible: 1 word] tell u[illegible: 1+ letters]) and then to give them to the [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1+ letters]. and 26. 4.

[illegible: 1 span] you please [illegible: 1+ letters]o [illegible: 1+ letters]ow and offer, but not the place where you shall offer them.

Either 1. the holy [illegible: 1 word] or first-born, as appears by Numb. 18 where they are commanded to be brought to this one place here designed, and to be offered upon Gods [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word]. 17. It is objected by some, that those were given to the pries[illegible: 1+ letters] ▪ Numb. 18. 18. but these were to be eaten by the people here [illegible: 1 word]. 7. But that the next verse doth not say, but onely in general, [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]all ye [illegible: 1 word], to wit, such of the offerings mentioned [illegible: 1 word]. 6. as they were allowed to eat, but not such as were the Priests peculiar, for these they might not eat, nor all there expressed, for it is evident they might not eat any of the burnt-offerings, not some parts of the other sacrifices, which are here mentioned Or 2. the second births, which were the peoples first-born, or the first which they could eat of, which they were to eat before the Lord by way of acknowledgement of his favour in giving them to them and all their succeeding births. See more on ver. 17.

Marginal references: L[illegible: 1+ letters]. 17. 3.