14:1
It happened in the days of Amrafel, king of Shin`ar, Aryokh, king of Ellasar, Kedorla`omer, king of `Elam, and Tid`al, king of Goyim, 14:2that they made war with Bera, king of Sedom, and with Birsha, king of `Amorah, Shin'av, king of Admah, and Shem'ever, king of Tzevoyim, and the king of Bela (the same is Tzo`ar). 14:3All these joined together in the vale of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea). 14:4Twelve years they served Kedorla`omer, and in the thirteenth year, they rebelled. 14:5In the fourteenth year Kedorla`omer came, and the kings who were with him, and struck the Refa'im in `Ashterot-Karnayim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-Kiryatayim, 14:6and the Hori in their Mount Se`ir, to El-Paran, which is by the wilderness. 14:7They returned, and came to En-mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and struck all the country of the `Amaleki, and also the Amori, that lived in Hatzatzon-Tamar. 14:8There went out the king of Sedom, and the king of `Amorah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Tzevoyim, and the king of Bela (the same is Tzo`ar); and they set the battle in array against them in the vale of Siddim; 14:9against Kedorla`omer king of `Elam, and Tid`al king of Goyim, and Amrafel king of Shin`ar, and Aryokh king of Ellasar; four kings against the five. 14:10Now the vale of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sedom and `Amorah fled, and they fell there, and those who remained fled to the mountain. 14:11They took all the goods of Sedom and `Amorah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 14:12They took Lot, Avram's brother's son, who lived in Sedom, and his goods, and departed.14:13
One who had escaped came and told Avram, the Hebrew: now he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amori, brother of Eshkol, and brother of `Aner; and these were confederate with Avram. 14:14When Avram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan. 14:15He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hovah, which is on the left hand of Dammesek. 14:16He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative, Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.14:17
The king of Sedom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Kedorla`omer and the kings who were with him, at the vale of Shaveh (the same is the King's Vale). 14:18Malki-Tzedek king of Shalem brought forth bread and wine: and he was Kohen of El `Elyon. 14:19He blessed him, and said, "Blessed be Avram of El `Elyon, possessor of heaven and eretz: 14:20and blessed be El `Elyon, who has delivered your enemies into your hand."Avram gave him a tenth of all.
14:21
The king of Sedom said to Avram, "Give me the people, and take the goods to yourself."14:22
Avram said to the king of Sedom, "I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, El `Elyon, possessor of heaven and eretz, 14:23that I will not take a thread nor a shoe-latchet nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Avram rich.' 14:24Except only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me, `Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre: let them take their portion."Why did Avram give Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem and Kohen (priest) of El Elyon (The Most High Mighty One), a tenth of all the spoils of his victory? Was it because Malki-Tzedek was not just a king but was also priest of El Elyon? Is it the case that El Elyon's Kohanim (priests) ought to receive a tenth of all battle spoils, seeing that what distinguished Malki-Tzedek from other kings in the region was that he was priest of El Elyon, while there is no mention of these other kings having been priests of El Elyon? And if so, why do El Elyon's priests receive a tenth of all battle spoils, while those who are not El Elyon's priests do not so receive this tenth?
Yaakov Promises To Tithe To Yahweh
28:1
Yitzchak called Ya`akov, blessed him, and commanded him, "You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Kana`an. 28:2Arise, go to Paddan-Aram, to the house of Betu'el your mother's father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of Lavan, your mother's brother. 28:3May El Shaddai bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples, 28:4and give you the blessing of Avraham, to you, and to your seed with you, that you may inherit the land where you travel, which the Mighty One gave to Avraham."28:5
Yitzchak sent Ya`akov away. He went to Paddan-Aram to Lavan, son of Betu'el the Arammian, Rivka's brother, Ya`akov's and Esav's mother.28:6
Now Esav saw that Yitzchak had blessed Ya`akov and sent him away to Paddan-Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, "You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Kana`an," 28:7and that Ya`akov obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan-Aram. 28:8Esav saw that the daughters of Kana`an didn't please Yitzchak, his father. 28:9Esav went to Yishma'el, and took, besides the wives that he had, Machalat the daughter of Yishma'el, Avraham's son, the sister of Nevayot, to be his wife.28:10
Ya`akov went out from Be'er-Sheva, and went toward Haran. 28:11He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. 28:12He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set up on the eretz, and the top of it reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of the Mighty One ascending and descending on it. 28:13Behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, "I am Yahweh, the Mighty One of Avraham your father, and the Mighty One of Yitzchak. The land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed. 28:14Your seed will be as the dust of the eretz, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your seed will all the families of the eretz be blessed. 28:15Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you."28:16
Ya`akov awakened out of his sleep, and he said, "Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I didn't know it." 28:17He was afraid, and said, "How dreadful is this place! This is none other than the Mighty One's house, and this is the gate of heaven."28:18
Ya`akov rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it. 28:19He called the name of that place Beit-El, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 28:20Ya`akov vowed a vow, saying, "If the Mighty One will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, 28:21so that I come again to my father's house in shalom, and Yahweh will be my Mighty One, 28:22then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be the Mighty One's house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give the tenth to you."When Yaakov undertook to have Yahweh as his Mighty One, upon Yahweh fulfilling to him what Yahweh had revealed he would fulfil, he also undertook to give back to Yahweh a tenth of all that Yahweh would give to him.
Why did Yaakov undertake to give back to Yahweh all that Yahweh would give to him? Was it Yahweh's law that he be given back a tenth of all that he gives to one? Was this the reason why Avraham gave Malki-Tzedek, Yahweh's priest, a tenth of all his battle spoils, a tenth of all that Yahweh gave him in battle? Also, noting Avraham's conduct, is the manner one gives back to Yahweh a tenth of all that Yahweh gives one the giving of this tenth to Yahweh's priest?
And who is Yahweh's priest?
Seeing that Malki-Tzedek is mentioned as Yahweh's priest, is he the only one that Yahweh authorised to receive his tenth, seeing that Yahweh's priest receives the tenth on Yahweh's behalf, and not on his own account? Has Yahweh authorised others to receive his tenth?
Also, why did Yaakov vow to tithe to Yahweh? If tithing of all that Yahweh gives to one was a law in application during Yaakov's time, did he need to vow to abide by it? Was he simply vowing to abide by Yahweh's existing law, or was he vowing to do what wasn't required of him by way of law, and was therefore within him to do or not to do?
Tithing After Yaakov's Example
It should be noted that Yaakov undertook to tithe to Yahweh of all that Yahweh would give to him. It is not specified how Yahweh would give it to him. It simply states that whatever Yahweh would give Yaakov the latter would tithe of that. It therefore appears that one tithing after Yaakov's example tithes of all that Yahweh's gives that one, irrespective of the manner that Yahweh gives to that one.
27:30
All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is Yahweh's: it is holy to Yahweh. 27:31If a man will redeem anything of his tithe, he shall add to it the fifth part of it. 27:32All the tithe of the herd or the flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to Yahweh. 27:33He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed. 27:34These are the commandments, which Yahweh commanded Moshe for the children of Yisra'el in mount Sinai.It is evident that among the commandments that Yahweh commanded Moshe for the children of Yisrael was the command to tithe of the land, the herd and the flock. For the tithe of all these agricultural and livestock produce belong to Yahweh.
In other words, what is witnessed here is that the practices of both Avraham and Yaakov had foundation, with respect to both Avraham and Yaakov returning to Yahweh what belonged to Yahweh.
Tithing In Yisrael More Restrictive Than In Avraham And Yaakov's Day
It should also be noted that in the case of Avraham and Yaakov the various things on which they gave to Yahweh a tenth of were not restricted to agricultural and livestock produce. For Avraham gave a tenth of all his battle spoils, which included non-agricultural and non-livestock goods. And Yaakov undertook to give Yahweh a tenth of all that Yahweh gave him, encompassing more than just agricultural and livestock produce. It therefore appears that the tithing commandment given to Yisrael through Moshe was more RESTRICTIVE than tithing as practised by both Avraham and Yaakov.
What are the children of Yisrael to do with goods outside agricultural and livestock produce, seeing that the tithing law given to them doesn't cover these? Is it at their option to tithe on these, seeing there isn't a legal requirement that they do so?
What about non-Yisraelites? Does Yahweh compel non-Yisraelites to tithe, and if so, on what goods?
Where Was Malki-Tzedek When The Children Of Yisrael Were Commanded To Tithe?
Seeing that Avraham gave the tenth of his battle spoils to Yahweh's priest, Malki-Tzedek, to whom were the children of Yisrael to give their agricultural and livestock produce tithes? Were they to give it to Yahweh's priest? And who stood as Yahweh's priest for the children of Yisrael? And where was Malki-Tzedek during the time of the children of Yisrael in Moshe's day? Had he died, even as Avraham, his contemporary, had died?
Leviticus 27:16-21 shows that what has been sanctified to Yahweh and therefore belongs to Yahweh is given to Yahweh's priest. In other words, the manner one gives a thing to Yahweh is by giving that thing to Yahweh's priest. Therefore, just as it was in the days of Avraham, so it was in the days of the children of Yisrael. The only difference was that Yahweh's priest in the days of Avraham was Malki-Tzedek, while in the days of the children of Yisrael Yahweh's priests were the household of Aharon.
Institution Of The Aharonic Priesthood
18:1
Yahweh said to Aharon, You and your sons and your fathers' house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.18:2
Your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, bring you near with you, that they may be joined to you, and minister to you: but you and your sons with you shall be before the tent of the testimony. 18:3They shall keep your charge, and the charge of all the Tent: only they shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary and to the altar, that they not die, neither they, nor you. 18:4They shall be joined to you, and keep the charge of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the Tent: and a stranger shall not come near to you.18:5
You shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar; that there be wrath no more on the children of Yisra'el. 18:6I, behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the children of Yisra'el: to you they are a gift, given to Yahweh, to do the service of the tent of meeting. 18:7You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil; and you shall serve: I give you the priesthood as a service of gift: and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.18:8
Yahweh spoke to Aharon, I, behold, I have given you the charge of my heave-offerings, even all the holy things of the children of Yisra'el; to you have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, as a portion forever. 18:9This shall be your of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every offering of theirs, even every meal-offering of theirs, and every sin-offering of theirs, and every trespass-offering of theirs, which they shall render to me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons. 18:10As the most holy things shall you eat of it; every male shall eat of it: it shall be holy to you. 18:11This is yours: the heave-offering of their gift, even all the wave-offerings of the children of Yisra'el; I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, as a portion forever; everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it. 18:12All the best of the oil, and all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first-fruits of them which they give to Yahweh, to you have I given them. 18:13The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to Yahweh, shall be your; everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it.18:14
Everything devoted in Yisra'el shall be yours. 18:15Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to Yahweh, both of man and animal shall be yours: nevertheless the firstborn of man shall you surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals shall you redeem. 18:16Those who are to be redeemed of them from a month old shall you redeem, according to your estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary (the same is twenty gerahs). 18:17But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy: you shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and shall burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savor to Yahweh. 18:18The flesh of them shall be yours, as the wave-breast and as the right thigh, it shall be yours. 18:19All the heave-offerings of the holy things, which the children of Yisra'el offer to Yahweh, have I given you, and your sons and your daughters with you, as a portion forever: it is a covenant of salt forever before Yahweh to you and to your seed with you.18:20
Yahweh said to Aharon, You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them: I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Yisra'el. 18:21To the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Yisra'el for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting. 18:22Henceforth the children of Yisra'el shall not come near the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die. 18:23But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations; and among the children of Yisra'el they shall have no inheritance. 18:24For the tithe of the children of Yisra'el, which they offer as a heave-offering to Yahweh, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance: therefore I have said to them, Among the children of Yisra'el they shall have no inheritance.18:25
Yahweh spoke to Moshe, saying, 18:26Moreover you shall speak to the Levites, and tell them, When you take of the children of Yisra'el the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave-offering of it for Yahweh, a tithe of the tithe. 18:27Your heave-offering shall be reckoned to you, as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the winepress. 18:28Thus you also shall offer a heave-offering to Yahweh of all your tithes, which you receive of the children of Yisra'el; and of it you shall give Yahweh's heave-offering to Aharon the Kohen. 18:29Out of all your gifts you shall offer every heave-offering of Yahweh, of all the best of it, even the holy part of it out of it. 18:30Therefore you shall tell them, When you heave the best of it from it, then it shall be reckoned to the Levites as the increase of the threshing floor, and as the increase of the wine-press. 18:31You shall eat it in every place, you and your households: for it is your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting. 18:32You shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have heaved from it the best of it: and you shall not profane the holy things of the children of Yisra'el, that you not die.
Domain Of The Aharonic Priesthood
18:1 shows that the service of the priesthood, given to Aharon and his sons and his father's house, was the service of the sanctuary. In other words, the priests served in the sanctuary.
18:2 defines Aharon's father's house as comprising of his brothers, those of the tribe of Levi. Therefore it is the tribe of Levi that Yahweh gave the service of the priesthood, the service in the sanctuary.
It should also be noted that within the tribe of Levi Yahweh gave Aharon's house pre-eminence with respect to service in the sanctuary. For only Aharon's house was to serve in the tent of the testimony, and their brothers were to minister to them. The non-Aharonic Levites ministered to the Aharonic Levites in the latter's service within the tent of the testimony.
18:3 shows that service pertaining to the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar was reserved for Aharonic Levites. Non-Aharonic Levites were charged with the responsibility of the entire Tent, and of listening to Aharonic Levites' charge, except what was reserved exclusively for Aharonic Levites.
Non-Levites Excluded From The Priesthood Within Yisrael
18:4 shows that non-Levites were not to serve at all in the Tent.
Giving To Yahweh's Priest Is Giving To Yahweh
18:6 shows that the manner the Levites were given to Yahweh was in their being given to Aharon's house as a gift, to do the service of the tent of meeting. It should therefore be clear that whatever is given to Yahweh is so given by it being given to Yahweh's Kohen or priest. And seeing that Yahweh's priest within Yisrael was Aharon and his house, whatever was given to Aharon's house was deemed given to Yahweh. In like manner it was seen earlier on that when Avraham gave a tenth of all the battle spoils to Yahweh's priest, it was deemed that he had indeed given them to Yahweh. Therefore whatever is given to Yahweh's priest is indeed given to Yahweh. This is the manner that Yahweh has set in place for various gifts to him.
Yahweh Has Given The Holy Things Of Yisrael To Aharon's House
18:7 reiterates that Aharon's house was exclusively given the priesthood as a service of gift.
18:8 notes that Yahweh has given all of the holy things of the children of Yisrael to Aharon's house. In other words, the various holy things that the children of Yisrael give to Yahweh, he in turn gives them to Aharon's house.
It should be noted that those of Aharon's house are Yahweh's priests to the children of Yisrael. It should also be noted that it is the holy things of the children of Yisrael that Yahweh has given to Aharon's house.
What Is The Priestly And Associated Status Outside Yisrael?
What is the status of those who are not children of Yisrael? Who is/are Yahweh's priest/s for those who are not children of Yisrael? And has Yahweh, in like manner, given these priests of his the various holy things that these non-Yisraelites give to Yahweh?
Who are the priests serving Yahweh by serving non-Yisraelites? And are non-Yisraelites to follow Avraham's and Yaakov's example of giving to Yahweh a tenth of all that Yahweh gives to them, giving this tithe to Yahweh's priests for non-Yisraelites?
It should also be noted that all the holy things of Yisrael Yahweh gave to Aharon's house FOREVER! Implying that as long as Aharon's house remains in existence, it is they who are entitled to all the holy things of the children of Yisrael.
But WHO is entitled to the holy things of non-Yisraelites? Has Yahweh raised up priests who serve him by serving non-Yisraelites? Are these priests, in the manner after both Malki-Tzedek and Aharon, entitled to Yahweh's holy things that non-Yisraelites give to Yahweh?
It should also be noted that both Avraham and Yaakov preceded the children of Yisrael. Within the children of Yisrael the priesthood is in the tribe of Levi, and in the family of Aharon. But during Avraham's day the priesthood was firmly in Malki-Tzedek. Was the priesthood ever removed from Malki-Tzedek or did it die with him? And who was Malki-Tzedek?
Yahweh's Tithe Is Not Restricted To Yahweh's Priests
18:21 shows that Yahweh gave the entire tithe in Yisrael to the Levites, in return for their service to Yahweh in the tent of meeting. It should also be noted that the Levites are NOT priests. They are assistants to Aharonic priests, and work under the direction of Aharonic priests. Nevertheless, despite not being priests, Yahweh indeed gave them his tithe in Yisrael. It therefore appears that Yahweh's tithe is not restricted to those who are priests. Even those who are not priests, but assist the priests in their priestly duties, receive of Yahweh's tithes in Yisrael. It therefore appears that Yahweh indeed gives his tithes to whoever he has inducted into his service, whether such a one is a priest or not.
Assistants To Yahweh's Priests Tithe To Yahweh's Priests
18:26 shows that Yahweh required the Levites to tithe of all that he had given them. Seeing that he gave them the tithe of the children of Yisrael, he required the Levites to tithe of this tithe that they had received. This tithe of a tithe they give to Yahweh by giving it to the priests whom they assist in their priestly duties, Aharon's house.
It should also be noted that the priest is at the apex of this tithing system. For the priest is answerable only to Yahweh. And seeing that the tithes he receives he so receives in Yahweh's stead, in return for his priestly duties in serving Yahweh, he does not need to tithe on what he receives.
Tithing Statutes And Ordinances Within The Land Of Yisrael
12:1
These are the statutes and the ordinances which you shall observe to do in the land which Yahweh, the Mighty One of your fathers, has given you to possess it, all the days that you live on the earth.12:2
You shall surely destroy all the places in which the nations that you shall dispossess served their mighty ones, on the high mountains, and on the hills, and under every green tree: 12:3and you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their Asherim with fire; and you shall cut down the engraved images of their mighty ones; and you shall destroy their name out of that place. 12:4You shall not do so to Yahweh your Mighty One. 12:5But to the place which Yahweh your Mighty One shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, even to his habitation shall you seek, and there you shall come; 12:6and there you shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill-offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock: 12:7and there you shall eat before Yahweh your Mighty One, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households, in which Yahweh your Mighty One has blessed you.12:8
You shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatever is right in his own eyes; 12:9for you haven't yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which Yahweh your Mighty One gives you. 12:10But when you go over the Yarden, and dwell in the land which Yahweh your Mighty One causes you to inherit, and he gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety; 12:11then it shall happen that to the place which Yahweh your Mighty One shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, there shall you bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vow to Yahweh. 12:12You shall rejoice before Yahweh your Mighty One, you, and your sons, and your daughters, and your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 12:13Take heed to yourself that you don't offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; 12:14but in the place which Yahweh shall choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.12:15
Notwithstanding, you may kill and eat flesh within all your gates, after all the desire of your soul, according to the blessing of Yahweh your Mighty One which he has given you: the unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle, and as of the hart. 12:16Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it out on the earth as water.12:17
You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your freewill-offerings, nor the heave-offering of your hand; 12:18but you shall eat them before Yahweh your Mighty One in the place which Yahweh your Mighty One shall choose, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your man-servant, and your maid-servant, and the Levite who is within your gates: and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your Mighty One in all that you put your hand to. 12:19Take heed to yourself that you don't forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land. 12:20When Yahweh your Mighty One shall enlarge your border, as he has promised you, and you shall say, I will eat flesh, because your soul desires to eat flesh; you may eat flesh, after all the desire of your soul.12:21
If the place which Yahweh your Mighty One shall choose, to put his name there, be too far from you, then you shall kill of your herd and of your flock, which Yahweh has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates, after all the desire of your soul. 12:22Even as the gazelle and as the hart is eaten, so you shall eat of it: the unclean and the clean may eat of it alike. 12:23Only be sure that you don't eat the blood: for the blood is the life; and you shall not eat the life with the flesh. 12:24You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the earth as water. 12:25You shall not eat it; that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, when you shall do that which is right in the eyes of Yahweh. 12:26Only your holy things which you have, and your vows, you shall take, and go to the place which Yahweh shall choose: 12:27and you shall offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of Yahweh your Mighty One; and the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of Yahweh your Mighty One; and you shall eat the flesh.12:28
Observe and hear all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you forever, when you do that which is good and right in the eyes of Yahweh your Mighty One. 12:29When Yahweh your Mighty One shall cut off the nations from before you, where you go in to dispossess them, and you dispossess them, and dwell in their land; 12:30take heed to yourself that you not be ensnared to follow them, after that they are destroyed from before you; and that you not inquire after their mighty ones, saying, How do these nations serve their mighty ones? Even so will I do likewise. 12:31You shall not do so to Yahweh your Mighty One: for every abomination to Yahweh, which he hates, have they done to their mighty ones; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their mighty ones. 12:32Whatever thing I command you, that shall you observe to do: you shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Tithes Eaten By The Children Of Yisrael
12:5-7 talks of tithes that the children of Yisrael are to take to the place Yahweh has chosen to put his name there, and to eat these tithes there.
It should be evident that these tithes are DIFFERENT from the tithes spoken of in Numbers 18. For in Numbers 18 the tithes of the children of Yisrael are given to the Levites, who in turn take a tithe of these tithes and give the same to Aharon's house. The tithe spoken of in Numbers 18 is NOT eaten by the children of Yisrael, but is indeed given to the Levites. Therefore these tithes spoken of in Deuteronomy 12 are indeed different from those spoken of in Numbers 18.
Did Yahweh Tolerate A Number Of Different Tithing Practices
12:8-9 indicates that with respect to burnt offerings, sacrifices, tithes, heave-offerings, vows, freewill-offerings, and the firstborn of herd and flock, the children of Yisrael had a number of different practices, with each person doing what seemed right in his own eyes. Yahweh tolerated this practice of the children of Yisrael doing what seemed right in their own eyes with respect to these matters, for they hadn't yet come to their rest and inheritance. The implication being that Yahweh has laws for the land of Yisrael that must be abided by within that land, but which he doesn't enforce outside that land. Outside that land his people can abide by the principle of the laws even though the detailed application of them will not be as in the land of Yisrael. It therefore appears that outside the land of Yisrael Yahweh tolerates a number of different practices with respect to these matters.
Children Of Yisrael Reminded To Share Their Tithes With The Levites
12:10-12 also shows Yahweh reminding the children of Yisrael to take heed that they remember the Levites in these ADDITIONAL tithes that they take to the place Yahweh has chosen to put his name. For these tithes were for the children of Yisrael to consume at the place Yahweh has put his name, not for giving to the Levites. The children of Yisrael were therefore reminded that they needed to remember the Levites in the consumption of these tithes, seeing that the Levites did not have their own land from which to derive produce that they could carry with them for this purpose.
It should therefore be evident that this additional tithe was not for Yahweh, but was for the children of Yisrael to consume at the place that Yahweh chose to put his name. The Levites therefore only shared in the consumption of these additional tithes as the rest of the children of Yisrael willingly shared with them.
Adequate Provisions During Intensive Learning To Fear Yahweh Always
14:22
You shall surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes forth from the field year by year. 14:23You shall eat before Yahweh your Mighty One, in the place which he shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear Yahweh your Mighty One always. 14:24If the way be too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it, because the place is too far from you, which Yahweh your Mighty One shall choose, to set his name there, when Yahweh your Mighty One shall bless you; 14:25then shall you turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which Yahweh your Mighty One shall choose: 14:26and you shall bestow the money for whatever your soul desires, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you; and you shall eat there before Yahweh your Mighty One, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 14:27The Levite who is within your gates, you shall not forsake him; for he has no portion nor inheritance with you.It should be noted that the PURPOSE for the children of Yisrael observing the commandment of the additional category of tithes was that they may have adequate provisions at the place Yahweh has chosen to put his name, when they are learning to fear Yahweh their Mighty One always. In other words, Yahweh intended that the children of Yisrael have sufficient provisions at the time they were intensively learning how to fear him always.
14:28
At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall lay it up within your gates: 14:29and the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Yahweh your Mighty One may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.It should be noted that these verses here are talking about an additional tithe observed once every three years. The beneficiaries of this tithe include Levites, sojourners, the fatherless and widows. It should also be noted that this tithe is not taken to the place Yahweh chooses to place his name to dwell, but is laid up within the gates of the children of Yisrael.
The first mentioned tithe is for the Levites, in exchange for their service in the tent of meeting. The second mentioned tithe is for the children of Yisrael to consume at the place Yahweh has chosen to put his name, when they are learning how to fear Yahweh always. The third mentioned tithe is for those who are needy, being observed once every three years. The first two mentioned tithes are to be observed continually, all throughout the year, and every year. The last mentioned tithe is to be observed only once every three years, that is in one year out of every three years. Only the first tithe, that given to the Levites in exchange for their service to Yahweh in the tent of meeting, is deemed given to Yahweh.
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