Jer 2:3 | TNotes | STEP | 2:3 Israel was holy because the Lord had separated her from other nations to be his special people and reflect his character (Exod 19:5-6 ; Lev 19 ; 22:31-33 ). • first of his children: Literally the firstfruits of his harvest. Mosaic law required the people to offer the first portion of every harvest to the Lord (Exod 23:16 , 19 ; 34:22 , 26 ; Lev 2:12 , 14 ; 23:10 , 17 , 20 ; Num 18:12 ; 28:26 ; Deut 18:4 ; 26:10 ; Zech 14:20 ). The people who made the covenant with God at Mount Sinai pledged their full commitment to the one true God. In return, the Lord protected them and punished their enemies during their journey to Canaan.

2:3 ^a Israel was holy because the Lord had separated her from other nations to be his special people and reflect his character (Exod 19:5-6 ^b; Lev 19 ^c; 22:31-33 ^d).

• first of his children: Literally the firstfruits of his harvest. Mosaic law required the people to offer the first portion of every harvest to the Lord (Exod 23:16 ^e, 19 ^f; 34:22 ^g, 26 ^h; Lev 2:12 ⁱ, 14 ^j; 23:10 ^k, 17 ^l, 20 ^m; Num 18:12 ⁿ; 28:26 ^o; Deut 18:4 ^p; 26:10 ^q; Zech 14:20 ^r). The people who made the covenant with God at Mount Sinai pledged their full commitment to the one true God. In return, the Lord protected them and punished their enemies during their journey to Canaan.