The Tithe in Scripture

Table of Contents

Offering material things to God -- Anciently connected with failure in tithe paying, etc. -- Bearing of the Septuagint on the rejection of Cain's offering -- Sacrifices of Noah, Abram, and Jacob

Chapter 2
ABRAM AND JACOB

Abrams tithe to Melchizedek -- Tithing traced to Babylonia -- extent of Abrams tithes -- Jacobs vow and its confirmation of tithe-paying -- Scientific deduction from patriarchal tithing, -- Hypothesis for primeval origin of tithe-paying -- Adams sons presumably the first tithe-payers -- absence of written law, and silence of Genesis, no objection thereto -- Pagan tithe-paying not learnt from Jewish Scriptures

Chapter 3
ISRAEL'S THREE TITHES

Tithe-paying expressly enjoined in the Pentateuch -- The first tithe, and observations thereon -- Given by God to the Levites -- The second, or festival tithe; its object, mode of payment, and personal benefit to the offerer -- The third, or poor tithe -- Not a substitute for second tithe, as witnessed by Tobit, Josephus, and others; Maimonides to the contrary, notwithstanding -- The third tithe, by modern comparison, not excessive.

Chapter 4
MOSAIC OFFERINGS

Other fixed claims on Israelites; corners, gleanings, first fruits, the firstborn, and seventh year debtors -- Freewill offerings and vows -- An income of six thousand bushels reduced by one fourth after tithing -- Method of tithing and profession before God -- Nature of evidence from the Pentateuch as to tithing, subsidiary, indirect, and fragmentary -- Law of tithe-paying somewhat similar to that of the Sabbath -- Adaptation of tithe-paying to the Mosaic law

Chapter 5
FROM JOSHUA TO SOLOMON

Working the laws during the two periods -- I. Under Joshua and Judges -- The law established under Joshua -- Lawlessness under Judges -- Returns to Jehovah under Jephthah, Eli, and Samuel -- II. Under the monarchies -- Saul's offerings of spoils -- David anointed king -- Ark brought to Jerusalem, and Levites reorganized -- David's accumulated offerings -- Solomon's dedication of the Temple, and his offerings -- Tithes under Israel's monarchs

Chapter 6
BEFORE AND AFTER THE CAPTIVITY

Working of tithe-law during two further periods: III. Under Judah and Israel -- Reformations under Asa and Jehoshaphat -- Giving in the times of Elijah and Elisha -- Church repairs under Joash -- Amos on Israel's tithes -- Hezekiah's restoration of Passover, tithe-paying, and first fruits -- Temple repairs and offering under Josiah -- IV. After the Captivity -- Offerings from Cyrus -- Rebuilding and presents to Temple under Ezra -- Malachi's "robbery" for withholding tithes -- Nehemiah's offering, and the people's oath concerning tithes -- Tithing organized -- Review of tithing from Joshua to Malachi

Chapter 7
TITHING IN THE APOCRYPHA

Apocryphal books illustrative of Jewish antiquities -- Tobit pays three tithes -- Judith dedicates spoils of war -- Offerings by Demetrius, Heliodorus, King Seleucus, and Judas Maccabeus -- Liberality and tithe-paying urged in Tobit and Ecclesiasticus -- Summary of evidence from Apocrypha

Chapter 8
TALMUDIC TEACHING ON THE FIRST AND SECOND TITHES

The Talmud: Mishna and Gemara -- Divisions and translations of Mishna -- Book VII, on first tithe, regulates what is to be tithed, and when -- Tithing applied to business transactions -- Tithing cooked fruit, transplanted vegetables, and ant-hills -- Rules concerning the second tithe, -- Not to be exchanged, not coins for it reckoned common -- Redemption of the second tithe, -- Second tithe in relation to reciting Mosaic formula

Chapter 9
THE 'DEMAI' OR DOUBTFUL TITHE

The Demai, or doubtful tithe -- Its exemptions, differences, and minute requirements -- Its bearing on the uneducated, on buying and selling, exchange of corn, payment of rent, and acceptance of hospitality -- Four tithes recognized in the Talmud, and their application to all classes -- Antiquity of Talmudic, by-laws, and their influence when Christianity appeared

Chapter 10
CHRIST'S ATTITUDE AND EXAMPLE AS TO TITHING

Jews, in the time of Christ, ruled by Gentiles -- Tithing among the Romans, Samaritans, and Palestine Jew -- Essenes, Sadducees, and Pharisees -- The Pharisees, tithe payers par excellence, and how admitted to membership -- Varieties of Pharisees, and our Lord's attitude towards them -- Prevalence of tithe-paying, and impossibility of indifference thereto -- Christ not regarded as "uninstructed" -- His teaching respected and consulted by the learned -- Christ entertained by Pharisees and not accused of withholding dues -- His parents scrupulous in legal observances on His behalf -- Christ's observance of the law and payment of temple money -- Our Lord's purse, and its tripartite expenditures

Chapter 11
CHRIST'S TEACHING ON TITHING AND BENEFICENCE

Christ's teaching on tithe-paying and beneficence -- Christ's exhortations to almsgiving, its proportion, and wholeheartedness -- Denunciations of Pharisees explained -- His commendation of three large givers -- Summary of Christ's teaching in relation to tithe-paying

Chapter 12
EARLY CHRISTIAN GIVING

Community of goods and money among the first disciples -- Wholeheartedness of Barnabas, and fraud of Ananias -- Apostolic organization of charity -- Alms of Tabitha, and of Cornelius -- Peter's relation to rabbinical tithe-paying -- Grecian Jews at Antioch sending alms by Barnabas -- Tithe-paying not rescinded at first Council at Jerusalem, Paul acting as almoner

Chapter 13
ST. PAUL'S TEACHING AND PERSONAL EXAMPLE

Paul's injunctions about raising a church fund -- His instructions to Galatians, Corinthians, and Philippians about giving -- Paul's application of Mosaic claims to Christian -- Is the law concerning tithe abrogated? -- Paul's example, and instructions to Corinthians and Ephesians concerning almsgiving and hospitality -- The proper recipients of Christian almsgiving -- Paul's own standard as to giving -- Retrospect of entire field of revelation as to tithe-paying and beneficence -- Denial of God's claim to a portion of income equivalent to spiritual anarchy.