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74 YEHOVAH’s Tithe in Scripture

This bears upon our subject to some extent, because these Israelitish warriors at this early
date were only doing as did their forefather Abram. They were carrying out a custom that extended
far beyond the confines of Palestine, for we have now reached the supposed era of the Trojan war,
when the Argives, as we are told, having subdued the Mycenians, are said to have consecrated a
tenth of their goods to their god. The Philistines also, it may be remarked, were actuated apparently
by similar motives on the downfall of Saul, by stripping his body and putting his armor in the house
of the Ashtaroth, I Samuel 31:10.

Moreover, David’s first trophy taken in war — the sword of Goliath — we hear of subse-
quently as wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod, under the care of Ahimelech the priest, I Samuel
21:9, whilst toward the end of David’s reign, so great had become the number of spoils taken in war,
that they were placed under the charge of Shelomith and his brethren, to whose care also were en-
trusted all the treasures of the dedicated things which David, the chief fathers, and captains of the
host, had dedicated out of the spoils taken in battles, I Chronicles 26:26-27.

On becoming king over all Israel, David lost no time in bringing the Ark of YEHOVAH
God to Jerusalem. When those that bare it had marched six paces, the king sacrificed oxen and
fatlings, II Samuel 6:13. The Levites also, on being helped by YEHOVAH, offered seven bullocks
and seven rams; and when the Ark was brought into the tent prepared for it, David further offered
burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before YEHOVAH, I Chronicles 15:26; 16:1-2, after which he
blessed the people in the name of YEHOVAH, and dealt to every man and woman a loaf of bread, a
portion of flesh, and a cake of raisins, I Chronicles 16:3.

After this, David appointed a large number of priests and Levites to perform daily service
before the high place at Gibeon, to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord upon the altar of the burnt of-
fering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the
Lord, I Chronicles 16:37-40.

Then David consulted Nathan about building a temple, for which the king began to collect
materials, dedicating thereto the silver and the gold that he took from all the nations: from Edom,
from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, from Amalek, and the spoil
of Hadadezer, I Chronicles 18:11; II Samuel 13:11-12, which strongly reminds us of the way in
which the Egyptian and Babylonian kings dedicated their spoils to their gods.

Later on we see the royal penitent purchasing the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite for
six hundred shekels of gold, because he would not offer burnt offering without cost; and building
thereon an altar because he was afraid to go before the tabernacle in the high place at Gibeon, I
Chronicles 21:24-25, 29.

Then began David’s active preparation of materials for the temple, comprising three thou-
sand talents of gold, seven thousand talents of silver, also brass, iron, wood, marble, costly stones,
and onyx and other gems, I Chronicles 29:2-4. This example was followed by the princes to the ex-
tent of five thousand talents, and ten thousand drams, of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eigh-
teen thousand talents of brass, one hundred thousand talents of iron, as well as costly stones; the
king and people rejoicing for that they offered willingly, I Chronicles 29:6-9. After this they killed,
as burnt offerings, one thousand bullocks, one thousand of rams, one thousand lambs with their

The Berean Voice July-August 2002