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86 YEHOVAH’s Tithe in Scripture

There yet remain to be noticed a few passages in Ecclesiasticus, some of which look at
almsgiving from quite a lofty point of view. Thus:

Shut up alms in thy store-chambers [i.e. for beneficent purposes], And it shall deliver thee
out of all affliction: It shall fight for thee against thine enemy, Better than a mighty shield
and a ponderous spear (Ecclesiasticus 29:12-13).

Once more: “He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, His offering is made in mock-
ery. And the mockeries of wicked men are not well pleasing. The Most High hath no pleasure in the
offerings of the ungodly, Neither is He pacified for sins by the multitude of sacrifices. As one that
killeth the son before his father’s eyes, Is he that bringeth a sacrifice from the goods of the poor"
(Ecclesiasticus 34:18-20).

If now we summarize what we have gathered upon our subject from the Apocrypha, we no-
tice first, and negatively, that we have found no passages implying that the payment of tithes and
other offerings was repealed, or fell into disuse, during the period succeeding the return of the Jews
from captivity, to the final destruction of their temple, or, say, during the three centuries preceding
the Christian era.

On the contrary, we have met with historical incidents and allusions showing that the temple
services, as restored by Ezra and Nehemiah, were continued under a regular priesthood, which sug-
gests payment in the form of tithes and offerings from the people. The laws of the Pentateuch are
still recognized as the standard of right giving. Seleucus and Heliodorus, like the kings of Babylon,
contribute to the Jewish temple. Tobit is represented as paying three tithes, and Judith as dedicating
her spoils of war; and all this is in harmony with the canonical books of the Old Testament.

Moreover, the Apocrypha rises to a still higher platform in the enunciation of lofty princi-
ples concerning almsgiving in general; for abundant, discriminating, proportionate giving of alms,
accompanied with prayer and fasting, is strongly urged upon all. He who would keep the law is in-
structed to multiply offerings, none appearing in the presence of YEHOVAH God empty-handed.
The reasons given, are, that alms are pleasing to YEHOVAH; that, when rightly offered, they de-
liver from death, and purge away sin. Also, it is promised, as leading to temporal prosperity, that the
Lord will recompense the liberal giver sevenfold. He is exhorted, accordingly, in every gift to show
a cheerful countenance, and to dedicate his tithes with gladness.

To Be Continued...

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The Berean Voice July-August 2002