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Post by Questor on Feb 7, 2014 3:39:32 GMT -8
Deuteronomy 14:22-26 (CJB)
22 (v) “Every year you must take one tenth of everything your seed produces in the field,
23 and eat it in the presence of Adonai your God. In the place where he chooses to have his name live you will eat the tenth of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your cattle and sheep, so that you will learn to fear Adonai your God always.
24 But if the distance is too great for you, so that you are unable to transport it, because the place where Adonai chooses to put his name is too far away from you; then, when Adonai your God prospers you,
25 you are to convert it into money, take the money with you, go to the place which Adonai your God will choose,
26 and exchange the money for anything you want — cattle, sheep, wine, other intoxicating liquor, or anything you please — and you are to eat there in the presence of Adonai your God, and enjoy yourselves, you and your household.
What is the best way to perform this mitvah?
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Post by jimmie on Feb 7, 2014 9:56:26 GMT -8
Matt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
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Post by alon on Feb 7, 2014 14:20:42 GMT -8
Deuteronomy 14:22-26 (CJB) What is the best way to perform this mitvah?
This isn't very practical either, as only giving to the Levites and the poor once every 3 yrs would not sustain them. Further sitting down to eat 1/10th of the years produce at one time would look more like a pagan orgy than something that honored Elohim. Whenever something in scripture looks impractical or wrong, and I can't understand it nor find a commentary that adequately explains it, then I start to look for deeper meaning.
I'm going to go with the spirit rather than the letter here. First off, we are the stewards of Gods great harvest. We are to receive and use it joyfully. We are to give in the same joyful spirit when we take our tithes and offerings to synagogue (there is no Temple at present). We are to make sure that both the priests/pastors or rabbis, as well as the poor are well taken care of. And I think it is right that we get together as a community of believers to eat together and to help and encourage each other.
Just my opinion; hope it helps.
Dan C
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Post by Questor on Feb 7, 2014 22:57:29 GMT -8
Deuteronomy 14:22-26 (CJB) What is the best way to perform this mitvah? Interesting passage, as it is at odds with many other places in scripture; Lev 27, Num 18, & Ex 22, for example. I am certain the Priests weren't particularly in agreement with it! Most scripture assigns tithes to the sanctuary and the Levites/priests. This isn't very practical either, as only giving to the Levites and the poor once every 3 yrs would not sustain them. Further sitting down to eat 1/10th of the years produce at one time would look more like a pagan orgy than something that honored Elohim. Whenever something in scripture looks impractical or wrong, and I can't understand it nor find a commentary that adequately explains it, then I start to look for deeper meaning. I'm going to go with the spirit rather than the letter here. First off, we are the stewards of Gods great harvest. We are to receive and use it joyfully. We are to give in the same joyful spirit when we take our tithes and offerings to synagogue (there is no Temple at present). We are to make sure that both the priests/pastors or rabbis, as well as the poor are well taken care of. And I think it is right that we get together as a community of believers to eat together and to help and encourage each other. Just my opinion; hope it helps. Dan C
The first tithe was that 1/10th of the produce from the land was set aside for Adonai...which were the Levites...given locally, and from whom a tithe of the tithe was sent on to the Cohanim at the Temple. The second tithe was the tenth animal of any kind born on your land of your livestock, and given to the Levites, who again tithed to the Cohanim. If you had income from other things, investment income, and so forth, I would presume that was considered as just another kind of produce from your lands, like rent, or renting out your money on a business or trading venture. As Adonai prospered you, you were supposed to be generous, so perhaps these kinds of extra income were used for alms.
Out of those two tithes given to the Levites each year, on the 3rd and 6th year, the Levites were to set aside the tithe given to the Levites for the poor, and not sending any tithe to the Temple. One presumes that those two years of tithing for the poor were sold, and saved up to buy food for the poor as there was need every year.The Festival Tithe was to be used during the moedim...split up between the the pilgrimage feasts of Chag HaMatzah/Pesach, Shavuot, and Chag Sukkot.
Deuteronomy 14:22-29 (CJB)
22 (v) “Every year you must take one tenth of everything your seed produces in the field,
23 and eat it in the presence of Adonai your God. In the place where he chooses to have his name live you will eat the tenth of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your cattle and sheep, so that you will learn to fear Adonai your God always.
24 But if the distance is too great for you, so that you are unable to transport it, because the place where Adonai chooses to put his name is too far away from you; then, when Adonai your God prospers you,
25 you are to convert it into money, take the money with you, go to the place which Adonai your God will choose,
26 and exchange the money for anything you want — cattle, sheep, wine, other intoxicating liquor, or anything you please — and you are to eat there in the presence of Adonai your God, and enjoy yourselves, you and your household.
27 “But don’t neglect the Levi staying with you, because he has no share or inheritance like yours.
28 At the end of every three years you are to take all the tenths of your produce from that year and store it in your towns.
29 Then the Levi, because he has no share or inheritance like yours, along with the foreigner, the orphan and the widow living in your towns, will come, eat and be satisfied — so that Adonai your God will bless you in everything your hands produce.
Leviticus 27:30-32 (NKJV)
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.
31 If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it.
32 And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD.
I don't think that YHVH had any objection to a little drunkenness...he was allowing them hard liquor! But, as usual, the festivals were pretty much kept in family groups, the women apart from the men for the most part, except for the preparing and serving before disappearing off to their women's area with the same fun foods and drink.
That doesn't trouble me. We can't go up to the Temple in Jerusalem, and going to Israel 3 times a year is not possible for me, even if the Temple was standing. So what is done with the tithe? Do I celebrate at home? Three feasts, two of which are 8 day feasts, would need a tithe to pay for it all...it works out to about 12 days income per feast. It sounds as if YHVH planned vacations for his people, and told them to prepare for it. Since there is no temple, and no sacrifices to be made, does anyone have suggestions as how to best keep the pilgrimage feasts? And the Festival Tithe, do we use it at home for a special celebration? |
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