Tithing - Nehemiah

Because God does not change, his statutes did not change, even after the Jews were in captivity from 586 BC to Nehemiah’s time in the 440’s BC. Tithing is once again mentioned, and Nehemiah mentions it a few times. In chapter 10, the Jews are reinstituting a series of commands given by God in the Law. Those mentioned are dealing with food, and eating that food. The tithe certainly fits the context, as it was an eating command. In this section, however, all of the food is brought into the temple. What about the personal tithe? The one that was eaten at home, with family? This tithe is not the issue in context; the tithe for the Levites is the issue, and it was to be brought to them yearly.

Nehemiah 10:34-39

10:34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the
LORD our God, as it is written in the law: 

10:35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD: 

10:36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God: 

10:37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

10:38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

10:39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.

Nehemiah 12:44

12:44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of
the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.

Nehemiah 12:44 has a brief mention of the tithe. Again it is food, and again the point is belabored, but old religious habits die hard – and as I have found, those practicing religious habits can be immensely stubborn. Levites are given authority to collect the tithes, which was ordained by God in the Law. Notice again that the firstfruits, offerings, and tithes are mentioned as separate entities. Offerings were given by everybody. Tithes and firstfruits could only be given by those growing or raising food. This illustrates an issue that many detractors like to raise. “If you are not tithing, then you’re not giving to God what’s rightfully His!”

1. It’s all His. He created it.

2. God does want us to give. I am not advocating miserly greediness. God most definitely wants us to give. The “offerings” in this verse was not limited to farmers, it was upon all of the Jews.

3. God wants more than “money.” He wants us according to Romans 12. Many have the notion that they do their godly duty by paying their tithe, but never once serve God in their entire lives. This point will be expounded upon with the Pharisees in Luke 11:42 and Luke 18:10-14.

Nehemiah 13:4-12

13:4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: 

13:5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

13:6 But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: 

13:7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

13:8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber.

13:9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

13:10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

13:11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

13:12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

Nehemiah 13:4-12 is a sad passage. It did not take long for the Godly system to be forsaken. Eliashib the priest was in charge. He was to keep the Temple properly, and provide for the Temple workers – Levites. Instead, he forsook the Levites, and took care of a wicked man, Tobiah (see Chapters 2, 4, and 6. Tobiah was an enemy of Israel). Eliashib was a foolish and dangerous leader. He twisted God’s Law into his favor, and forsook those who were truly God’s people. When Nehemiah received word of this situation, he ventured back to Jerusalem from Persia. Nehemiah was not the pastor, nor the priest, but he was certainly a “man of God.” He operated upon the Law, and threw Tobiah, angrily I might add, out of the Temple chamber. The chamber was empty, which illustrated that fact that Eliashib was not caring for the Levites. The Levites took up farming, notice in 13:10 that they were working on their own fields! God commanded that they would not own fields or land. Levi was not given a physical inheritance like the other tribes had. Levi was taken care of by God, He was their inheritance, but they squandered the Law as well. Nehemiah had to contend with the “religious” leaders, as they were the ones who forsook the commands and positions. They were set into place once again, and the tithes were once again brought. It was not that the people did not want to bring them in, notice that they did it rejoicingly in chapter 12!? It was the Temple workers who had erred.

What can be learned from Nehemiah and the tithe?

1. It was still food.

2. The people wanted to take care of the Temple workers  - that is Levites.

3. The tithe was perverted, and then the Temple workers were forsaken.

4. A non-Levite, non-Priest pointed the “religious” leaders back to the Law of God.

5. The tithe was done according to God’s Law, not according to any other tradition.

6. God’s Word is the authority, and it can be spoken by anyone, leader or not. Pastor or not. It does not have to be spoken by a "church" leader to be the truth. Further, if the leader does not follow the Bible's authority, that leader is in error, not the Bible, nor the person who holds to the Bible.