ראשית וביכורים בהלכת קומראן

Rabbinic halakhah assigns two different gifts from agricultural produce to the priests: the heave offering (תרומה) and first fruits (ביכורים). Analysis of the relevant documents from the Dead Sea Scrolls leads to the conclusion that no such doubling is attested there; the only gift mentioned in the scrolls is the first fruit offering. On the other hand, unlike rabbinic halakhah, which limits the obligation for first fruits to the seven biblical species (שבעת המינים) and fixes no minimum amount for the fulfillment of this obligation, Qumranic law demands that the first fruits be set aside from all types of produce (grain and fruits) and specifies the exact quantity to be given to the priests.