The Feast of Firstfruits included the presentation of firstfruits of the spring barley harvest in the Promised Land. The Israelites also offered a lamb, flour, and wine, all representative of God's provisions of spiritual and physical food and drink for His people (vv. 9-14). They presented this offering on the day after the Sabbath following Passover. The ancients regarded the firstfruits (Heb. Shavuot) as a kind of down payment with more to follow.
Jesus arose from the grave on this day as the firstfruits of those who sleep in death (1 Cor. 15:20).
In modern times it is customary for observant Jews to stay up the entire night of Shavuotstudying and discussing the Torah. The tradition that the Israelites had fallen asleep the night before God gave them the Torah and Moses had to awaken them is the basis of this custom.
