Deuteronomy 14:28 - At the end of every three years you shall bring all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall store it within your gates.
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What does "Deuteronomy 14:28" mean?
Deuteronomy 14:28 instructs the Israelites to set aside a full tithe (10%) of their produce every three years. This tithe wasn't to be taken to the central sanctuary (as the annual tithe was). Instead, it was to be stored within their own towns ("gates"). This "three-year tithe" was specifically intended for the vulnerable members of the community.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"At the end of every three years...": This establishes a cyclical pattern. Every third year, a special tithe was required, distinct from the regular annual tithe.
"...you shall bring all the tithe of your increase in the same year...": This emphasizes that the tithe was to be taken from all the increase (crops, livestock, etc.) of that particular year. It was a full 10% of the year's bounty.
"...and shall store it within your gates.": This is a crucial point. Unlike the regular tithe which was brought to the central sanctuary (likely for the Levites and priests), this tithe was to be kept locally, within the boundaries of their town or village ("gates" representing the local community).
Purpose and Implications:
The primary purpose of the three-year tithe was to provide for the needy within the local community. Deuteronomy 14:29 clarifies who this tithe was for: "And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand that you do."
This verse indicates the local tithe was for:
Levites: The priestly tribe, who didn't own land and relied on tithes for their sustenance. (Note that during non-sabbatical years, they received the first tithe)
Sojourners (Foreigners): Resident aliens who lacked land ownership and social support.
Fatherless (Orphans): Children without parents to provide for them.
Widows: Women who had lost their husbands and often lacked the means of self-support.
Significance:
Social Welfare: This law provided a built-in system of social welfare within the Israelite community. It ensured that the vulnerable had access to food and sustenance.
Decentralized Charity: Unlike the regular tithe focused on the central sanctuary, the three-year tithe emphasized local responsibility for the poor. It promoted community involvement in caring for its own members.
Blessing through Obedience: The verse ends with a promise: "...that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand that you do." This connects obedience to God's commands with prosperity and blessings.
In essence, Deuteronomy 14:28-29 establishes a system for a localized and cyclical charitable fund to care for the most vulnerable in Israelite society. It was a tangible way of demonstrating compassion, fulfilling social responsibility, and acknowledging God's provision.
Deuteronomy 14:28 - At the end of every three years you shall bring all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall store it within your gates.
What does "Deuteronomy 14:28" mean?
Deuteronomy 14:28 instructs the Israelites to set aside a full tithe (10%) of their produce every three years. This tithe wasn't to be taken to the central sanctuary (as the annual tithe was). Instead, it was to be stored within their own towns ("gates"). This "three-year tithe" was specifically intended for the vulnerable members of the community.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"At the end of every three years...": This establishes a cyclical pattern. Every third year, a special tithe was required, distinct from the regular annual tithe.
"...you shall bring all the tithe of your increase in the same year...": This emphasizes that the tithe was to be taken from all the increase (crops, livestock, etc.) of that particular year. It was a full 10% of the year's bounty.
"...and shall store it within your gates.": This is a crucial point. Unlike the regular tithe which was brought to the central sanctuary (likely for the Levites and priests), this tithe was to be kept locally, within the boundaries of their town or village ("gates" representing the local community).
Purpose and Implications:
The primary purpose of the three-year tithe was to provide for the needy within the local community. Deuteronomy 14:29 clarifies who this tithe was for: "And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand that you do."
This verse indicates the local tithe was for:
Levites: The priestly tribe, who didn't own land and relied on tithes for their sustenance. (Note that during non-sabbatical years, they received the first tithe)
Sojourners (Foreigners): Resident aliens who lacked land ownership and social support.
Fatherless (Orphans): Children without parents to provide for them.
Widows: Women who had lost their husbands and often lacked the means of self-support.
Significance:
Social Welfare: This law provided a built-in system of social welfare within the Israelite community. It ensured that the vulnerable had access to food and sustenance.
Decentralized Charity: Unlike the regular tithe focused on the central sanctuary, the three-year tithe emphasized local responsibility for the poor. It promoted community involvement in caring for its own members.
Blessing through Obedience: The verse ends with a promise: "...that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand that you do." This connects obedience to God's commands with prosperity and blessings.
In essence, Deuteronomy 14:28-29 establishes a system for a localized and cyclical charitable fund to care for the most vulnerable in Israelite society. It was a tangible way of demonstrating compassion, fulfilling social responsibility, and acknowledging God's provision.