Who were the corners and gleanings of the Jewish harvest left for?
Under the Jewish harvest law, the corners of the field and the gleanings were left for the poor. After the main harvest and the early ripening heads were taken, the landowner was not to completely reap the corners or gather all the gleanings, providing for the needy.
Les explains that Leviticus 19 gives instructions for the Jewish harvest. After the harvest had been taken, they were not to wholly or completely reap the corners of the field, nor gather all the gleanings. He notes there were three aspects of the Jewish harvest: first the early ripening heads of grain, then the main harvest, but the corners and gleanings had to be left for the poor. Les then connects this harvest system to I Corinthians 15, where Paul says Christ has risen and become the first fruits of those who have died, using Israel’s harvest as an illustration of the coming resurrections.
And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
More Questions
Why did the law command leaving the corners of the field and the gleanings of the vineyard?
The reason the law forbade completely reaping the corners or gathering every grape was to leave them for the poor, which Les says served a physical need.