Philo on the Barley Offering

On the first day of the weeklong Passover festival, visitors to the Temple would offer the first of their harvest of barley, following the prescriptions in Leviticus 23:10–14. Offering a philosophical and symbolic interpretation of the ritual, Philo explains that the barley offering serves as a firstfruit offering for the entire world, drawing a parallel between the Jews’ relation to the rest of humanity and a priest’s relation to the general population. After elaborating on the importance of giving thanks for agricultural produce, he considers why barley, which is of a lower value than wheat, is offered on Passover, the first festival in the calendar, while wheat is not offered until Shavuot. See also The Mishnah on the Barley Offering.