THEOSISJerome of Stridon
Vv. 13-14. The offerings you are to bring consist of a sixth of an ephah from the wheat and a sixth of an ephah from the barley. The prescribed measure of oil is one bat of oil, equating to one-tenth of an ephah, leading to ten baths representing one kor due to the ten baths in an ephah. According to the Septuagint, these are the portions designated: the sixth from the measure of wheat and the sixth from the kor of barley; for oil, the kotila, referred to as the kiaf, is derived from ten kotyls, given that ten kotyls form a homor.
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It is noted that in the LXX version, the names and order of the measures differ, leading to potential confusion in understanding the text. For example, instead of ephah, a different term is used, and similar substitutions occur with other measurements. To interpret this in terms of the literal sense, the people were mandated by law to offer a tithe, specifically a tenth of all produce, to the tribe of Levi. The Levites, representing the lowest rank of priests, in turn offered a tithe from their portion to the high priests, which formed a second tithe. Other tithes were set apart by the people for their sustenance during their journeys to the temple in Jerusalem, shared with the priests and Levites as part of communal meals. Additional tithes for the poor were also established, known in Greek as the tithes of the poor.
However, the offerings derived from the produce were not restricted to a fixed amount and left to the discretion of the giver. A Jewish tradition, not mandated by law but formed by the rabbinical teachings, indicated that the largest portion given to priests was one fortieth, while the smallest was one sixtieth, allowing individuals to choose amounts within this range. This clarification aimed to prevent the priests from demanding more than was justly due, specifically from the fruits of the earth.
If one considers the kor (homer in Hebrew, homor in LXX), which contains thirty modii for both solids and liquids, and since an ephah and bat together account for a tenth of a kor, it follows that when priestly offerings require a sixth from both the ephah and the kor, this calculation leads to the conclusion that priests should receive one sixtieth of these offerings.
At this point, it is beneficial to understand this aspect relating to the Hebrew text and its literal interpretation. Moving to the spiritual understanding, we are prompted to reflect on the scriptural encouragement: 'Honour the Lord from thy righteous labours, and give Him firstfruits from thy fruits of righteousness: that thy barns may be filled with abundance, and thy presses burst forth with new wine,' (Proverbs 3:9, 10). As you offer the firstfruits of your labor and strength, may you declare, 'I have brought you firstfruits from the produce of the earth, which You, O Lord, have given me.' (Deut. 26:10)
In return, you will receive blessings—'Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field; blessed is the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, and the fruit of thy cattle’ (Deut. 28:3-4)—and every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1). All that you possess is not solely through your own efforts but through the generosity of the One who provides the harvest.
If we possess knowledge of the Scriptures that enables us to unveil the mysteries and guide others, we are indeed offering the firstfruits from our wheat. Conversely, if we focus purely on historical accounts to nourish those lacking understanding, we are offering the seed of our barley, reminiscent of Isaac who sowed in a foreign land and reaped with abundance (Genesis 26). The one who sows barley may confidently declare: 'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want' (Ps. 23:1). Yet, one who ministers to others shifts their perspective, proclaiming, ‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies’ (Ps. 23:5).
As one presents the elements of oil and wine, they may also say, 'You have anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over' (Ps. 23:5) – this signifies the pure and unblemished oil reserved for the Lord’s lampstand. One who has prepared this will be cheerful, filled with the joy of the oil, echoing the anointing that Christ received surpassing His companions. The metaphor of the olive tree resonates here: 'But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God' (Ps. 52:8).
In respect to the wine that flows from the true vine, as declared by the Lord: 'I am the vine; you are the branches' (John 15:1-5). We find references to these themes in three psalms—eighth, eightieth, and eighty-third—which honor the sacraments of the Church. In the Old Testament, offerings were boundless, as the Spirit is given without limitation. However, in the second temple, prophesied by Ezekiel, a specific measure is introduced, namely the sixtieth, now fulfilled in our world, as instructed, 'With the measure you use, it will be measured to you' (Matthew 7:2).