Kim Fisher shares a Dream related to First Fruits, the Omer Count on April 17th and our Redemption! The Season is now!
What Was the Omer Offering (Korban Ha’omer)?
And what does it have to do with counting to Shavuot?
Contemporary Jews associate the Omer with the mitzvah of Sefirat Haomer, counting the days from the second day of Passover until the holiday of Shavuot. In truth, the Omer is the name of a special offering that was brought on the second day of Passover. As we will discuss, it is connected with the seemingly separate mitzvah of counting the Omer.
New Grain – the Omer Offering
The omer is actually a biblical-era measurement (equivalent to approximately 43 oz.). On the second day of Passover, the 16th of Nisan, in addition to the regular holiday offering, a lamb was offered together with an omer of barley taken from the first harvest of the land of Israel.1
It was forbidden to eat or even reap any newly grown crops of the five species of grain (wheat, barley, oats, rye, and spelt) before the harvesting of the Omer.2
Unique among offerings in the Temple, the Omer offering was brought with great fanfare. This is how Maimonides describes it:
On the day before the festival of Passover, the agents of the court would go out [to the field] and tie [the barley] into bundles while it was still attached to the ground so that it would be easy to reap. On the evening after [the first day of] Passover, all of the inhabitants of all the neighboring villages would gather so that it would be reaped with much flourish. They would have three men reap three se’ah of barley in three baskets with three sickles.
When it became dark, the reapers would ask those standing in attendance:
“Has the sun set?” They would answer: “Yes.” “Has the sun set?” They would answer: “Yes.” “Has the sun set?” They would answer: “Yes.”
“Is this a sickle?” They would answer: “Yes.” “Is this a sickle?” They would answer: “Yes.” “Is this a sickle?” They would answer: “Yes.”
“Is this a basket?” They would answer: “Yes.” “Is this a basket?” They would answer: “Yes.” “Is this a basket?” They would answer: “Yes.”
If it was the Sabbath, they would ask:
“Is it the Sabbath?” They would answer: “Yes.” “Is it the Sabbath?” They would answer: “Yes.” “Is it the Sabbath?” They would answer: “Yes.”
Afterwards, they would ask:
“Should I reap?” They would answer: “Yes.” “Should I reap?” They would answer: “Yes.” “Should I reap?” They would answer: “Yes.”3
(For the reason for this great fanfare, see Why Do Jews Start Counting the Omer Early?)
After reaping, they would bring the barley to the Temple courtyard, where they beat, winnowed and roasted the kernels over the fire in a cylinder. The kernels were then spread out in the Temple courtyard and the wind wafted through it. The barley was then brought to a mill and ground to produce three se’ah4 (approximately 6.5 gal.), and after it had been sifted with 13 sifters, an issaron5 (one-tenth) was removed.
This issaron of fine barley flour was taken and mixed with oil, and a handful of frankincense was placed upon it. It was waved in the eastern portion of the Temple courtyard in all four directions—up, down, right and left. It was then brought close to the tip of the southwest corner of the altar like the other meal offerings. A handful of the meal was taken and offered on the altar’s pyre. The remainder was eaten by the priests like the remainder of all other meal offerings.
Prepare for the Return of the Lord Jesus Christ!
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