Commentary for Terumot 3:7
וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁיִּקְדְּמוּ הַבִּכּוּרִים לַתְּרוּמָה, זֶה קָרוּי תְּרוּמָה וְרֵאשִׁית, וְזֶה קָרוּי תְּרוּמָה וְרֵאשִׁית, אֶלָּא יִקְדְּמוּ בִכּוּרִים, שֶׁהֵן בִּכּוּרִים לַכֹּל. וּתְרוּמָה לָרִאשׁוֹן, שֶׁהִיא רֵאשִׁית. וּמַעֲשֵׂר רִאשׁוֹן לַשֵּׁנִי, שֶׁיֶּשׁ בּוֹ רֵאשִׁית:
From where [do we derive] that [the setting aside of] <i>Bikurim</i> must precede <i>Terumah</i>, seeing that this one is called “<i>Terumah</i>” and “the first” and the other is [also] called “<i>Terumah</i>” and “the first”? Rather <i>Bikurim</i> take precedence since they are the first-fruits of all produce. And <i>Terumah</i> precedes <i>Ma'aser Rishon</i> because it is called “first.” And <i>Ma'aser Rishon</i> precedes <i>Ma'aser Sheni</i> because it includes that which is called “first” [<i>Terumat Ma'aser</i>].
Bartenura on Mishnah Terumot
זה קרוי תרומה וראשית – "ביכורים"/”first fruits” is called "תרומה"/”heave-offering” , as the Master said [Tractate Pesahim 38b}: “or of your contributions”/"תרומת ידך" (Deuteronomy 12:17) – these are the first fruits, as it is written concerning them (Deuteronomy 26:4): “The priest shall take the basket from your hand [and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God.” And they are called: "ראשית"/ “choice” (Exodus 23:19): “he choice first fruits of your soil [you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God.” "תרומה"/heave-offering is called “Terumah” (Numbers 18:9) “I give you charge of My gifts,” and it is called (Deuteronomy 18:4): “[You shall also give him] the first fruits of your new grain [and wine and oil, and the first shearing of your sheep].”
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English Explanation of Mishnah Terumot
Introduction
In yesterday’s mishnah we learned that one must first separate “first-fruits (bikkurim)” from one’s produce and only afterwards separate terumah, then first tithe and finally second tithe. Today’s mishnah provides the scriptural support for this order.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Terumot
כבורים שהן כבורים לכל – the language of "בכורים"/”first fruits”, is expounded, therefore, the All-Merciful One calls them "בכורים"/”first fruits”; alternatively, because it is written in the Torah portion of Kee Tissa (Exodus 34:26 – “The choice first fruits of your soil you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God”_ until they had not been commanded regarding the heave-offerings/Terumot.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Terumot
From where do we derive that first-fruits must precede terumah, seeing that this one is called “terumah” and “the first” and the other is [also] called “terumah” and “the first”? First fruits are called “terumah,” at least according to rabbinic interpretation, in Deuteronomy 12:6, which states, “And there you are to bring your burnt offerings and other sacrifices, your tithes and contributions (terumah), your votive and freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks.” The terumah referred to in this verse is first fruits, according to the rabbis. The rabbis interpreted the verse this way because regular terumah does not need to be taken to the Temple. First fruits are called “first” in Exodus 23:19, “The choice first fruits of your soil you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God.” Terumah is called as terumah in Numbers 18:29 and it is called “first” in Numbers 18:12. Since both terumah and first fruits are referred to with the same terms, why does one have to separate first fruits before terumah?
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Bartenura on Mishnah Terumot
שיש בו ראשית – that in the First tithe, it has in it the Terumah/heave-offering of the tithe, and the Terumah is called: "ראשית"/”first” – therefore, it is law that the First [Tithe] should come before the Second [Tithe].
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English Explanation of Mishnah Terumot
Rather first-fruits take precedence since they are the first fruits of all produce. The answer is that first fruits are designated while the fruit is still attached to the ground, and hence they are separated first.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Terumot
And terumah comes before the first tithe also because it is called “first.” Terumah is removed from produce before first tithe because Numbers 18:12 calls terumah “first.”
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English Explanation of Mishnah Terumot
And first tithe [precedes second tithe,] because it includes that which is called “first.” First tithe, the tithe given to the Levites, is removed from produce before second tithe because first tithe includes “terumah” in it. This refers to the terumah that the Levite takes from his tithe and gives to the priest. We should note that first tithe is not called “first tithe” by the Torah. The name “first tithe” is given to it by the rabbis because it is removed first.
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