tithing in the mosaic law

7/27/2019 Tithing in the Mosaic Law

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Conclusion

The above investigation of references to tithe in Pentateuch has yielded the following results:

First, it appears that the annual tithe of the Israelites surpassed ten percent of their income,actually more than twenty percent. The Levitical Tithe was ten percent of Israelites income. Thefestival tithe was another ten percent of ones income (or of the remaining ninety percent after theLevitical tithe had been paid). With both of these tithe totalling twenty percent of a persons

income.

Secondly, the poor tithe average one over three percent every year. This adds up to a total ofapproximately one over three or one over three of peoples overall income. Mac Arthur wrote:The differences exist among those who have calculated the percentages[5] Regardless of thetotal, it should be clear that the Israelites gave more than tenth percent.

Thirdly, historically speaking, Judaism around the time of Christ understood the Old Testamentas prescribing multiple tithes. For example, the apocryphal book Tobit 1:6-8 indicates that themain character, Tobit, paid three separate Tithes[6].

Josephus wrote concerning multiple tithing when he wrote that: In addition to the two Tithewhich I have already directed you to pay each year, the one for the Levites, and the other for thefestivals, you should devote a third part of third year, to the distribution of such things as arelacking to widow women, and orphan Children.[7]

Though, some may dispute whether or not Judaism around the time of Christ was correctin its understanding of the Old Testament regarding Tithing. It should be noted that thisunderstanding is never challenge in the New Testament. If the New Testament writers carriedover tithing in to the New Covenant Era, then their understanding most likely would have beenthat of two or three tithes. Douglas has this: we have not been able to locate any document thatsuggests that first century Judaism held to a single Tithe.[8]

Fourthly, the tithes were giving to Levites. Since there are no Levites in the Church today, theargument is sometimes made that pastors have taken the place of Levites and that they shouldtherefore be the primary beneficiaries for the tithe.

More importantly, the Priest, a group within the Levites, served as mediator between God andpeople, yet the New Testament teaches that there is only one mediator between God and people,the man Christ Jesus (1Timothy 2:25). For this reason it is deeply problematic when Pastors aresaid to replaced priest in the Old Testament Church.

Fifthly the poor tithe was given to the Levites, foreigners, orphans and widows. This may have

been a substitute for the festival tithe, or more likely, was another tithe paid every three years.Both the Old and the New Testament show a deep concern for the ministers, orphans, widows,and poor in general.

Tithing in the Historical and Prophetic Books

After the Pentateuch, tithing is mentioned in seven passages in the rest of the history, andprophetic books: IIChronicles31:5-6; Nehemiah10: 38-39; 12: 44-47; 13: 5, 12; Amos 4:4, andMalachi 3: 8-10. Each passage will be examined in canonical order.

1. II Chronicles 31:5

The passage in II Chronicles does not add significantly to the discussion on tithing. Similar tothe situation in Nehemiah, Hezekiah commanded tithing begin again. The response of thepeople was abundant giving, as they obeyed the law. Tithing of both harvested items (v.5),and animals (v.6) are mentioned. Verse 6 also mentions that the tithes of the holy aresacred things.


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Nehemiah 13:5-12 describes the situation in which Nehemiah found the Temple, and theLevites upon his return from Persian. The Levites had not been receiving their portion andhad returned to their field to survive, thus neglecting the house of God. Nehemiah appointedfaithful men to oversee the collection to make sure it was done properly (Nehemiah 13:13).Interestingly no tithe of livestock is mentioned.

This passage raises some interesting question for those who say that tithing continues. DoesNehemiah imposed in Nehemiah10:33 continue (obviously not 1/3 of a shekel, but in some

equivalent amount)? Is there any parallel to supplying fire wood for the temple? How does thefirst fruits command apply?

Finally, and most interestingly, should Pastors (who have replaced the Levites/ Priest) go outto collect the tithes to make sure they are being paid? The problem during Nehemiahs timewas that the people were not bringing in the tithes, so his solution was to go out and collectthe tithes. Todays church, too, has those who are unfaithful in paying their tithes. If tithing is tobe paid by force should the present (administration) church leaders collect the tithes asNehemiah prescribed for his time?

Nehemiah provided some valuable information for the Malachi text. The background for

Malachi is the period between Nehemiahs visits to Jerusalem. As mentioned above, whenNehemiah left Palestine for a time, the people ceased to tithe, and the temple staff had toleave the temple to support itself. When Nehemiah returned he made sure tithing began again (Nehemiah 13:12).

[1] Miles Bennett, Malachi in The Broadman Bible Commentary, vol. 7, ed. Clifton J. Allen(Nashville: Broadman, 1972), 389.

[2] Craig L. Blomberg, Neither Poverty or Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possession (DownersGrove: Intervarsity Press, 1999), 80.

[3] Roland de Vaux,Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institutions, trans. John McHugh (New York:Baker Publishing, 1961), 34.

[4] John MacArthur, Gods Plan for Giving, 76.

[5] MacArthur, Gods Plan for Giving, 77.

[6] Daniel J. Harrington, Investigation to the Apocrypha (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. EerdmansPublishing Company, 1999), 12.

[7] Flavius Josephus, Jewish History in The Complete Works Of Josephus (Chicago: WilliamHeinemann Ltd., 1901), 109.

[8] J. D. Douglas, New Commentary on Jewish History(England: Intervarsity Press, 2004), 74.

[9] J. Barton Payne, I and II Chronicles, in Expositors Bible Commentaryvol. 4, ed. Frank E.Gaebelein (Grand Rapids :Zondervan, 1985), 539.


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[10] Ralph L. Smith, Amos in TheBroadman Bible Commentaryvol. 7, 103.

[11] Ibid, 105.

[12] Thomas Edward McComiskey, Amos in Expositors Bible Commentary, 305.

[13] Emmett Willard, Amos in TheBroadman Bible Commentary, 495.

[14] Edwin Yamauchi, Nehemiah in Expositors Bible Commentary, 742.

tithing in the mosaic law

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