Topical Bible: Priest: The Time of Moses: Exempt from Tax

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In the time of Moses, the role of the priest was of paramount importance in the religious and communal life of the Israelites. Priests were descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses, and were set apart for sacred duties in the Tabernacle, and later in the Temple. Their responsibilities included offering sacrifices, maintaining the sanctuary, and instructing the people in the laws of God.

The exemption of priests from certain civic obligations, such as taxes, is rooted in their unique role and the divine provision for their sustenance. The Levites, the tribe from which the priests came, did not receive a territorial inheritance like the other tribes of Israel. Instead, their inheritance was the Lord Himself, as stated in Numbers 18:20 : "The LORD said to Aaron, 'You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.'"

This divine arrangement necessitated a different form of support for the priests and Levites. The Israelites were commanded to provide for them through tithes and offerings. Numbers 18:21 specifies, "Behold, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do—the work of the Tent of Meeting." This provision ensured that the priests could focus on their spiritual duties without the burden of economic concerns that affected the other tribes.

The exemption from taxes and other civic duties can be seen as an extension of this divine provision. The priests' primary allegiance was to God and His service, and their exemption from taxes underscored their distinct role and the community's responsibility to support them. This arrangement allowed them to dedicate themselves fully to their sacred responsibilities without the distractions of secular obligations.

The principle of supporting those who minister in spiritual matters is echoed in the New Testament, where Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 , "Do you not know that those who serve in the temple eat of the temple’s food, and those who attend to the altar share in the altar’s offerings? In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."

Thus, the exemption of priests from taxes during the time of Moses reflects a broader biblical principle of providing for those who are dedicated to spiritual service, ensuring that they can fulfill their God-given roles without hindrance.

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Ezra 7:24
Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, on them.
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Library

The Women of the Gospel Narrative the Study of the Early Christian ...
... not a man, however loose in conduct or humble of birth, who was not well versed
in the moral precepts of Moses and in ... At that time the high-priest made a ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/i the women of the.htm

Inspiration of Scripture. --Gospel Difficulties. --The Word of God ...
... of the Old,"from the writings of Moses to the ... to have been President about that
time."Now, there ... year 4 BC, Matthias was undeniably the Jewish High-priest. ...
/.../inspiration and interpretation/sermon iii inspiration of scripture gospel.htm

The Abrogation of the Saybrook Platform
... him, in 1753, of Rector Punderson, the priest recently placed ... from typical pamphlets
of the time will give ... Moses Bartlett, pastor of the Portland church, in a ...
/.../chapter xi the abrogation of.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... This is the title given in Exodus 24:7 to a writing in which Moses is said to ... From
the midst of Ephraim, another seer, this time a priest, Hosea, son of ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... See the Blessing of Moses (Dent, xxxiii.22). ... Eli, the priest to whose care it was
at this time consigned, had earned universal respect by the austerity of ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm