Q
Re: The Last Eight Days, Part 3: In the paragraph regarding Sunday, 17 Nisan. The Resurrection, The Feast of First Fruits – I was wondering why there is a celebration of First Fruits of a harvest when it is spring and we normally think of a harvest happening in the fall. What is the sample of the harvest that the priest is bringing to the Temple to be dedicated?
A
In Biblical times, barley and wheat were both planted in the fall in Israel. Barley matured earlier and was ready to harvest in the Spring. The barley harvest officially began on the Feast of First Fruits. Wheat took longer to mature and was harvested beginning 7 weeks later on the Feast of Pentecost.