Definition: Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough [for] an heave offering: as [ye do] the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.
Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Numbers 15:20. It’s a really interesting and somewhat unusual detail about how Jewish people celebrated Passover. Here’s a simple explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a ritual that was practiced during the Passover celebration – a way to show gratitude and remembrance of God's deliverance from Egypt. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough…” This means they would create a small, sweet cake made of dough (usually bread) as a gift to God. It was a symbolic offering – a way to acknowledge His blessings and remind Him of his power. “…for [ye do] the heave offering of the threshingfloor…” This is where it gets a little strange. The "heave offering" is a very old tradition that involved threshing . Threshing is the process of separating grain from straw. The “cake” was made to resemble a small portion of the grain gathered during the harvest. "...so [ye do] as [ye do] the heave offering of the threshingfloor..." This is the crucial part. It's saying that this particular type of offering, which involved a small piece of the harvested grain, was identical to the traditional "heave offering" of the threshing floor. It’s like saying, “Just like we give a portion of the harvest, we should also offer a small piece of our dough as a reminder of God's abundance.” In short: This verse is about establishing a connection between a small gift (the cake) and an ancient tradition (the threshing floor offering). It was a way to show gratitude for God’s gifts and remember his power through tangible offerings. Important Note: This practice has largely been abandoned in modern times, but it's a fascinating glimpse into the history of Jewish traditions! --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give more context about Passover? Discuss the meaning behind this tradition?