The Law of the Tithe as Set Forth in the Old Testament; Illustrated, Explained and Enforced from Biblical and from Extra-Biblical Sources (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1912 Excerpt: ... Ill THE MATERIAL AND SOCIAL APPLICATION OF THE TITHING LAW THAT treasure of antiquity, that source of much that is precious in the lore of the Bible, Josephus, in the Fourth Book of his "Antiquities," has this to say in regard to the Levites, the priesthood, and the means provided for their maintenance: "And now Moses, because the tribe of Levi was made free from war and warlike expeditions, and was set apart for the divine worship, lest they should want and seek after the necessaries of life, and so neglect the temple, commanded the Hebrews, according to the will of God, that when they should gain the possession of the land of Canaan, they should assign forty-eight good and fair cities to the Levites; and permit them to enjoy their suburbs, as far as the limit of two thousand cubits would extend from the walls of the city. And besides this, he appointed that the people should pay the tithe of their annual fruits of the earth, both to the Levites and to the priests. And this is what that tribe receives of the multitude; but I think it is necessary to set down what is paid by all, peculiarly to the priests. "Accordingly he commanded the Levites to yield up to the priests thirteen of their forty-eight cities, and to set apart for them the tenth part of the tithes which they every year receive of the people; as also that it was just to offer to God the first fruits of the entire product of the ground;and that they should offer the first born of those four-footed beasts that are appointed for sacrifices, if it be a male, to the priests to be slain, that they and their entire families may eat them in the holy city; but that the owners of those first born which are not appointed for sacrifices in the laws of our country should bring a shekel and a half in their s...