Tithes Is Food and Drink as Stated in the book of Deuteronomy
The book of Deuteronomy has a lot to say about tithes but this is not the same as the first tithe spoken about in Leviticus.
Deu 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
So every year the children of Israel were commanded to “Tithe” of all that grew in their fields.
Deu 14:23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
What were the Israelites told to do with their tithes? Verse 23 says that they should “Eat it before the lord”. But not only that, they were to take it to a place where God had chosen to place His name.
We also see the list of things to tithe become a bit more descriptive with corn, wine and oil being mentioned.
This tithe is also different from the first because it no longer says that this is the Lord’s tithe. This one belonged to the person that produced it and was to be consumed by them.
So then this means that they tithed twice and as we know a tithe is 10%, so then they were giving 20%.
Deu 14:24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
Deu 14:25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:
Deu 14:26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
Right so if the place that God chooses is too far for the Israelites to travel with all the fruit, crops, oil, wine, herds and flocks, then they were allowed to sell it for money and take the money to the place that God had chosen to place His name.
When they arrived there they would then take that money and buy whatever THEY wanted, Oxen, sheep, wine, strong drink, corn, oil and again they and their family would EAT it before the Lord. This was meant to be a fun time as they are told to rejoice with their household in verse 26….. “and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household”,
This confirms that tithing was never about money, as we have just read money was in circulation at that time, but even when the tithe was traded for money, it had to be converted back into food and drink!
This was a command from God that the tither and his family had a feast at a place where He placed His name.
Deu 14:27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
In verse 27 we read that the Levite should not be forgotten and should share in this great feast. But it wasn’t just any Levite; it says the Levite that is within thy gates.
Three Yearly Tithing
Deu 14:28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:
Deu 14:29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
Ok so every third year the Israelites wouldn’t take the tithe anywhere but they would store it up at home.
They would then share the feast with their family, the Levite, the Fatherless, the widows and the strangers that lived within their gates.
They were told if they did this they would be blessed.
This verse aligns with Leviticus 25:35 where the children of Israel were told to show kindness to the less fortunate.
Lev 25:35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
Written By
Pastor Donovan Benjamin
PS This is the second in my series of blogs on tithing to read the first click here, also check back for future posts on the subject.