Deuteronomy 26:12-15

(3) TITHES OF THE THIRD YEAR (Deuteronomy 26:12-15)

12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithe of thine increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then thou shalt give it unto the Levite, to the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled. 13 And thou shalt say before Jehovah thy God, I have put away the hallowed things out of my house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandment which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed any of thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them: 14 I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I put away thereof, being unclean, nor given thereof for the dead: I have hearkened to the voice of Jehovah my God; I have done according to all that thou has commanded me. 15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the ground which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 26:12-15

456.

Why call the third year the year of tithing?

457.

Please notice those who were to benefit by the tithe. Who fits these categories now?

458.

What is meant by the expression, I have put away the hallowed things out of my house?

459.

Why would anyone be tempted to eat of the Lord's tithe during the time of mourning?

460.

Explain: given thereof for the dead.

461.

God's blessing and approval is here directly related to the proper use of money. Is it yet true?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 26:12-15

12 When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger and the sojourner, the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within your towns and be filled.
13 Then you shall say before the Lord your God, I have brought the hallowed things [the tithe] out of my house, and moreover have given them to the Levite, to the stranger and the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all your commandments which you have commanded me; I have not transgressed any of your commandments, neither have I forgotten them.
14 I have not eaten of the tithe in my mourning [making the tithe unclean], nor have a handled any of it when I was unclean, or given any of it to the dead; I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded me.
15 Look down from Your holy habitation, from Heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the land which You have given us, as You swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.

COMMENT 26:12-15

This passage is an expansion of the one formerly given in Deuteronomy 14:28-29. See notes there, and also on Deuteronomy 14:22-27, all in lesson 12.

AND THOU SHALT SAY BEFORE JEHOVAH THY GOD (Deuteronomy 26:13)The head of the household makes a solemn declaration that he has discharged his tithing responsibilities faithfully and conscientiously. It may also have been made at the sanctuary before the priest (cf. Deuteronomy 26:3; Deuteronomy 26:5), though before Jehovah (Deuteronomy 26:13) may also refer to what one does in his own house (Genesis 27:7).

I HAVE PUT AWAY THE HALLOWED THINGS OUT OF MY HOUSE (Deuteronomy 26:13)That is, the things which had been designated for God in the tithe had not been kept in his house. Jesus said Render. unto God the things that are God'Sa concept of both testaments.

Dr. Thomson[44] gives us a helpful statement here. Remarking on Deuteronomy 26:14 he says, ... this passage is made sufficiently plain by an acquaintance with modern [he wrote in the mid-nineteenth century] funeral customs. What you have just read is part of that protestation which the devout Jew was required to make at the close of the third year, -which is the year of tithing.-' He was to come before the Lord and say -I have brought away the hallowed things out of my house, and also have given them unto the Levite and unto the stranger, to the fatherless and to the widow, according to all thy commandments. I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead.-' This was the strongest possible protestation that he had dealt faithfully in the matter of tithing and consecrated things, and in charities to the poor. He had not allowed himself to divert anything to other uses, not even by the most pressing and unforseen emergencies. It is here assumed, or rather implied, that times of mourning -for the dead-' were expensive, and also that the stern law of custom obliged the bereaved to defray those expenses, however onerous. The same thing lies at the basis of that excuse for not following our SaviourSuffer me first to go and bury my father;-' a duty which must take precedence of all others. Such it was among most ancient nations, and such is the public sentiment at this day. Moreover, funerals are now ruinously expensive. Crowds of relatives, friends, and acquaintances assemble on these occasions. The largest gatherings ever seen in Lebanon are on these occasions. For all these guests refreshments must be provided, and not a few from a distance tarry all night, and must be entertained. In short, many families are reduced to poverty by funerals; and it must have been substantially so in remote ages, for the customs were similar. The temptation, therefore, to devote a part of the tithes, hallowed things, and charities, to defray these enormous, unforseen, providential expenses, would be very urgent; and he who stood faithful at such times might be safely trusted on all other occasions. The words -nor given ought thereof for the dead,-' are explained by a curious custom still observed with great care. On certain days after the funeral, large quantities of corn [grain] and other food are cooked in a particular manner, and sent to all the friends, however numerous, in the name of the dead.

[44] The Land and the Book, pp. 104, 105.