The topic of tithing is referenced dozens of times throughout the Word of God, often listed under words such as tithe, tithe, tithes, tithing, and a tenth. However, do all references in the Bible refer to the same type of tithe? Whenever you hear tithing referenced in a church, you could easily assume there is only one definition of the term tithe – ten percent of one’s income. In reality, there are several different types of tithes and applications thereof. The most commonly quoted tithe is the ordinance requiring the nation of Israel to give a tenth of everything from their land, herds and flocks to Levites as part of their inheritance, since they did not inherit any land and were responsible for part-time rotational duties in the temple. The Levites were also required to give a tenth of the best and holiest part of their tithes to the Aaronic priests. In addition to the inheritance tithe, the Old Testament also includes a yearly festival tithe and a triennial poor tithe. Likewise, there are passages about Old Testament patriarchs giving a tenth to a priest or God. Below you will find a breakdown for each of the three tithes. The other tithing references pertaining to the Old Testament patriarchs will be addressed in a separate article.
The Levitical tithe required the nation of Israel to give, on a yearly basis, a tenth of everything from their land, herds and flocks to the Levites in the cities where they lived and worked around Israel, as part of their inheritance and their responsibility for temple duties in Jerusalem. Likewise, the Levites were required to give a tenth of the best and holiest part of their tithes to the Aaronic priests.
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Levites and say to them: When you receive from the Israelites the tithes I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering…From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest. You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest of everything given to you.’” (Numbers 18:25-26, 28-29 NIV)
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them…A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord…The entire tithe of the herd and flock – every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod – will be holy to the Lord.’” (Leviticus 27:1-2, 30, 32 NIV)
“And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of their tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury.” (Nehemiah 10:37-38 NIV)
The festival tithe required the nation of Israel to bring, on a yearly basis, a tithe from their land, herds and flocks to the temple in Jerusalem, where everybody celebrated before the Lord as they ate portions of this tithe.
“These are the decrees and laws you must be careful to follow in the land that the Lord, the God of you fathers, has given you to possess – as long as you live in the land. …you are to seek the place the Lord you God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offering and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.” (Deuteronomy 12:1, 5-7 NIV)
“Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.” (Deuteronomy 14:22-23 NIV)
The poor tithe required the nation of Israel to give, on a triennial basis (once every three years), a tithe of that year’s produce and store it within their cities, where the poor may come and eat and be satisfied.
“At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” (Deuteronomy 14:28-29 NIV)
Overall, the same common theme applies to all three of the tithes – the tithe always derived from food grown or raised on the Israelites’ land, not money earned from any of their crafts or skills. However, the application of the Old Testament tithes served specifically different purposes. The tithe compensated for the lack of an inheritance and part-time rotational temple duties, supplied food for the yearly celebration before the Lord, and provided sustenance for the poor around the cities of Israel.
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