Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Deuteronomy 14:22 - 14:29
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Of Tithing
v. 22. Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed that the field bringeth forth year by year, set aside the tenth part of the income for the use of Jehovah.
v. 23. And thou shalt eat before the Lord, thy God, in the place which He shall choose to place His name there, the central Sanctuary which He intended to select in Canaan, the tithe of thy corn, that is, of grain in general, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks, chap, 12:5-7, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord, thy God, always. The fear of the Lord does not only include the feeling of utter dependence upon Him, but includes also the idea of piety, and Israel, with the proper reverence; was to rejoice in the fellowship of the covenant God.
v. 24. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, namely, the tithe of the field and orchard, of the herd and of the flock, 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, for it happened later that some Israelites lived more than a week's journey from Shiloh, from the heights of Gibeon, and from Jerusalem,
v. 25. then shalt thou turn it, the gift of the tenth, into money, by selling it or by taking its equivalent in cash, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord, thy God, shall choose;
v. 26. and thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, that is, buy for that silver whatever sacrificial animal or offering he might want, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth, whatever it might request of the person for the offering which it had determined to bring; and thou shalt eat there before the Lord, thy God, Deu_12:7-18, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thine household,
v. 27. and the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him, Deu_12:12 to Deu_18:19; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee, Num_18:20, and should therefore be given special consideration by the members of the Jewish Church.
v. 28. At the end of three years, after the harvest of every third year, thou shalt bring forth, namely, out of the granaries and bins, all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates, in storehouses provided for that purpose in the cities;
v. 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, for once have their fill to eat and to drink; that the Lord, thy God, may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest, as a reward for this cheerful care of the poor, as it flowed out of true charity. Twice within the cycle of the Sabbatic year the tenth of the increase was thus set aside for the poor and needy, and four times it was taken to the Sanctuary of Jehovah. If the Lord blesses a Christian in his labor, the latter should not forget those that are less fortunate, lest the Lord withdraw His blessing in anger.