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80 YEHOVAH’s Tithe in Scripture

On their arrival in Jerusalem, “some of the chiefs of the fathers . . . offered freely for the
house of God to set it up in his place. They gave after their ability . . . 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000
pounds of silver, and 100 priests’ robes" (Ezra 2:68-69). We read also of a subsequent burnt offer-
ing, by returned captives, of 12 bullocks for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 he-goats for a sin
offering, Ezra 8:35.

When the seventh month was come, the people “gathered as one man to Jerusalem,” built
the altar of the God of Israel, and restored the continual daily burnt offering, and other customary
offerings, as well for the feasts, as for “every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the
Lord" (Ezra 3:2-5).

The rebuilding of the temple having been stopped for some years, the work was again fa-
vored by King Darius, who ordered that of the king’s goods expenses should be given to the build-
ers:

And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for burnt
offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the
priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: that they may of-
fer sacrifices of sweet savour unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of
his sons (Ezra 6:8-10).

The house, accordingly, was finished, and the dedication kept with joy, the people offering
at the dedication 100 bullocks, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and, for a sin offering, 12 he-goats; after
which, “they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, as it is written in the
book of Moses" (Ezra 6:16-18).

So much, then, for information form the book of Ezra, which represents the worship of
YEHOVAH restored, and the priests and Levites settled in their offices; but no mention is made as
to how they were to be permanently supported. We read again of tithes, however, in the book of
Nehemiah and in the prophecy of Malachi, who, by some, is thought to have been Nehemiah’s con-
temporary and assistant in the work of reformation.

The prophet Malachi rebukes his contemporaries sharply for their defection from the law.
He charges the priests with despising YEHOVAH’s name in offering polluted bread upon the altar,
and the blind, the lame, and the sick for sacrifice, Malachi 1:7-8, 4:4.

Furthermore, in reference to tithes, the prophet’s words are still more drastic; and he calls
the people “robbers” for withholding them:

Will a man rob God? yet ye rob Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and
offerings. Ye are cursed with the curse; for ye rob Me, even this whole nation. Bring ye the
whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now
herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you
out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it (Malachi 3:8-10).

The Berean Voice July-August 2002