“Every gift of all the sacred items of the children of Israel that they will present to the priest shall be his” (Numbers 5:9). “Every gift [teruma]” – the verse tells regarding teruma that it is in effect regarding everything.42Meaning, everything that grows from the ground. “Of all the sacred items of the children of Israel” – this includes other unspecified sacred items that are not explicitly mentioned here, that they go to the priests, and no part of them is for the Lord, just as it is stated: “That is returned” (Numbers 5:8), regarding robbery from a proselyte.43The robbery from a proselyte is given in its entirety to the priests.
I wonder, what else do I include? Ḥalla, dedications, hides, firstborns, redemption of the firstborn son, and redemption of a firstborn donkey. “That they will present” – Rabbi Yishmael said: Does one sacrifice [makrivin] teruma? Why does the verse state: “That they will present [yakrivu]”?44Yakrivu can also mean, “they will sacrifice.” The midrash is asking why the verse uses the word “sacrifice” with regard to teruma.
Because it says: “The choicest first fruits [of your land you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God]” (Exodus 23:19), but we did not hear what shall be done with them. The verse states: “That they will present to the priest, shall be his” – the verse comes and teaches regarding first fruits that they are given in their entirety to the priests.