Deuteronomy 26:14

I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away [ought] thereof for [any] unclean [use], nor given [ought] thereof for the dead: [but] I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, [and] have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.

I have not eaten {H398} thereof in my mourning {H205}, neither have I taken away {H1197} ought thereof for any unclean {H2931} use, nor given {H5414} ought thereof for the dead {H4191}: but I have hearkened {H8085} to the voice {H6963} of the LORD {H3068} my God {H430}, and have done {H6213} according to all that thou hast commanded {H6680} me.

I haven't eaten any of this food when mourning, I haven't put any of it aside when unclean, nor have I given any of it for the dead. I have listened to what ADONAI my God has said, and I have done everything you ordered me to do.

I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while in mourning, or removed any of it while unclean, or offered any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything You commanded me.

I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I put away thereof, being unclean, nor given thereof for the dead: I have hearkened to the voice of Jehovah my God; I have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.

Deuteronomy 26:14 is part of the declaration made by an Israelite presenting their firstfruits or tithes to the Lord in the sanctuary. This declaration served as a public affirmation of their faithfulness and obedience to God's commands regarding these offerings.

Context

Chapters 26 of Deuteronomy concludes Moses' long discourse to the Israelites before they enter the promised land. It focuses on the proper procedures for presenting firstfruits and the third-year tithe, linking these acts of worship to the covenant relationship between God and Israel. After bringing the required offering to the priest, the Israelite was to recite a historical creed acknowledging God's deliverance from Egypt and blessing upon their land (Deuteronomy 26:5-10). Following this, they were to rejoice and then make a declaration concerning the proper handling of the tithe for the poor, the Levite, and the sojourner (Deuteronomy 26:12-13). Verse 14 is part of the concluding oath or declaration within this tithe section, affirming that the giver has handled the holy portion according to specific purity and usage rules.

Key Themes

  • Obedience: The core message is the affirmation of having followed God's specific instructions regarding the tithe.
  • Purity in Worship: The verse emphasizes the need to handle sacred offerings with ritual purity, distinct from common or defiling uses.
  • Distinction from Pagan Practices: It explicitly rejects practices associated with pagan mourning rites or offerings to the dead.
  • Integrity: The declaration is a statement of personal integrity before God and the community concerning the handling of sacred resources.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "given ought thereof for the dead" likely refers to pagan customs where food was offered to the deceased or consumed during funerary rites believed to appease or communicate with the dead. This practice was strictly forbidden in Israel as it violated the exclusivity of worship due to the LORD and could involve contact with ritual impurity associated with death.

Commentary & Meaning

This verse lists three specific prohibitions that the Israelite declares they have upheld concerning the dedicated tithe:

  1. "I have not eaten thereof in my mourning": Eating holy food was restricted during periods of ritual impurity, including mourning for the dead (see Leviticus 7:20, Hosea 9:4). This ensured that holy things were only consumed by those who were ritually clean.
  2. "neither have I taken away [ought] thereof for [any] unclean [use]": The tithe was consecrated to the LORD for specific purposes (supporting the Levites, the poor, etc.). This part of the declaration affirmed that the giver had not diverted the tithe for common, profane, or ritually impure uses, keeping it distinct and holy.
  3. "nor given [ought] thereof for the dead": This is a direct rejection of pagan practices. Offering food to the dead or using dedicated resources in funerary rituals associated with ancestor worship or necromancy was strictly forbidden, reinforcing the unique covenant relationship with the living God.

The concluding statement, "but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me," is a powerful summary. It elevates the specific acts of handling the tithe correctly into a broader statement of overall obedience to God's voice and commands. This declaration wasn't just about the food; it was about the heart attitude of submission to God's covenant requirements.

Reflection & Application

While the specific rules about mourning and offerings for the dead may not directly apply to Christians today, the underlying principles are timeless. The verse calls us to:

  • Handle resources dedicated to God and His work with integrity and reverence.
  • Distinguish between what is sacred and what is common in our lives and giving.
  • Avoid practices contrary to God's commands, particularly those rooted in superstition or pagan beliefs.
  • Live a life characterized by genuine obedience to the voice of the LORD, not just in specific religious acts but in all areas, echoing the commitment to "hearken to the voice of the LORD" (1 Samuel 15:22).

It serves as a reminder that our acts of worship and giving are connected to our overall walk of faith and obedience.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Leviticus 7:20

    But the soul that eateth [of] the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that [pertain] unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

  • Leviticus 21:11

    Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

  • Hosea 9:4

    They shall not offer wine [offerings] to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices [shall be] unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.

  • Leviticus 21:1

    ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:

  • Psalms 106:28

    They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

  • Ezekiel 24:17

    Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not [thy] lips, and eat not the bread of men.

  • Deuteronomy 16:11

    And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that [is] within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that [are] among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.
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