Topical Bible: Tithe: Consisted of a Tenth of all the Produce of the Land

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The concept of the tithe, originating from the Hebrew word "ma'aser," meaning "a tenth," is a significant practice in biblical tradition, particularly within the Old Testament. The tithe was a divine ordinance requiring the Israelites to dedicate a tenth of their agricultural produce, livestock, and other income to God. This practice was not merely a religious duty but also a means of supporting the Levitical priesthood, the poor, and the functioning of the religious community.

Biblical Foundation

The command to tithe is first explicitly mentioned in the Mosaic Law. Leviticus 27:30 states, "Thus any tithe of the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD." This verse underscores the sanctity of the tithe, emphasizing that it is set apart for God.

In Numbers 18:21 , the purpose of the tithe is further clarified: "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." The Levites, who were responsible for the spiritual and religious duties of the community, did not receive a land inheritance like the other tribes. Instead, they were sustained by the tithes of the people.

Implementation and Practice

The tithe was not limited to crops and livestock but extended to all forms of increase. Deuteronomy 14:22-23 instructs, "You must be sure to set aside a tenth of all the produce brought forth each year from your fields. And you are to 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 fear the LORD your God always."

This passage highlights the dual purpose of the tithe: it was both an act of worship and a means of fostering reverence for God. The Israelites were to bring their tithes to a designated place, often the Tabernacle or Temple, where they would partake in a communal meal, celebrating God's provision and reinforcing their dependence on Him.

Tithing and Social Justice

The tithe also played a crucial role in social justice. Every third year, a special tithe, known as the "poor tithe," was collected and distributed to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows within the community. Deuteronomy 14:28-29 explains, "At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and lay it up within your gates. Then the Levites, because they have no portion or inheritance among you, the foreigners, the fatherless, and the widows within your gates may come and eat and be satisfied. And the LORD your God will bless you in all the work of your hands."

This provision ensured that the vulnerable members of society were cared for, reflecting God's heart for justice and compassion.

Prophetic Emphasis

The prophets also addressed the issue of tithing, often in the context of calling the people back to faithfulness. Malachi 3:10 is a well-known passage where God challenges the Israelites: "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the LORD of Hosts, "and see if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure."

This verse not only reiterates the importance of tithing but also presents it as a test of faith, promising divine blessing for obedience.

New Testament Perspective

While the New Testament does not explicitly command tithing, it acknowledges the practice and emphasizes the principles of generosity and stewardship. Jesus, in Matthew 23:23 , criticizes the Pharisees for their meticulous tithing while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."

This indicates that while tithing was practiced, it should not overshadow the broader ethical demands of the faith. The early church, as seen in Acts and the Pauline epistles, focused on voluntary giving and sharing resources to meet the needs of the community, reflecting the spirit of the tithe in a new covenant context.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 27:30
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy to the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Travelling in Palestine --Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House ...
... the Syrian rule the taxes seem to have consisted of tribute ... property was subject
to a tax of one-tenth of all ... half-shekel of the sanctuary, and the tithe of his ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 4 travelling in palestineroads.htm

The Book of Jubilees
... the creation to the entrance into Canaan consisted of fifty ... first-fruits, but also
the second tithe which was ... in the earth; and God permitted one-tenth of them ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of jubilees.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... chief part of the duty of the priests consisted in offering ... important of which was
the esra or "tithe." Besides the ... a third, a fourth, or even a tenth part of ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... is the delight of bees, which produce excellent and ... people of Yamutbal and of
Yatbur^^"all independent of ... These deities received a tenth of the spoil after ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... uninterrupted chain of burying-places on the table-land. ... hour of their death, and
beyond it, all that they ... They consisted also of short sentences, by which the ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... of Babylonia, and included among their produce wheat, barley ... they dedicated to the
god the tenth of the ... energies, though it did not absorb all their resources ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... most despised of all the families in the land.'[4] Bunyan ... which are common to most,
if not all, inquiring souls, and which frequently produce much anxiety ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm