As the men of Israel, laden with the first fruits of field and orchard and vineyard, gathered at the tabernacle, there was made a public acknowledgment of God's goodness. When the priest accepted the gift, the offerer, speaking as in the presence of Jehovah, said, "A Syrian ready to perish was my father;" and he described the sojourn in Egypt and the affliction from which God had delivered Israel "with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders." And he said, "He hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this 527 land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey. And now, behold, I have brought the first fruits of the land, which Thou, Jehovah, hast given me." Deuteronomy 26:5, 8-11.

Når de israelitiske mænd samledes ved tabernaklet og afleverede førstegrøden fra deres marker, frugthaver og vingårde, gav giveren offentligt udtryk for Guds godhed. Når præsten modtog gaven, sagde giveren for Herren sin Guds åsyn: "En omvankende aramæer var min stamfader." Derefter skildrede han Israels ophold i Ægypten og de pinsler, som Herren udfriede dem fra "med stærk hånd og udstrakt arm, med store, forfærdelige gerninger og med tegn og undere". Han fortsatte: "Han førte os til dette sted og gav os dette land, et land, der flyder med mælk og honning. Og her bringer jeg nu førstegrøden af frugterne af den jord, du har givet mig, Herre!" 5. Mos. 26, 5. og 8-11.