Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peter AT qaya.org>]

On 10/03/2006 01:37, Kevin Riley wrote:
>  In Leviticus "tithe" refers to 1/10 of agricultural produce given to the
> Levites and Priests.  Many different Christian groups through the centuries
> have had a similar system where 1/10 of income [including agricultural
> products and money] are given to the church.  I realised I had been assuming
> Malachi had the latter idea in mind [all income] and started wondering if I
> had that wrong, and if so whether Judaism had ever expanded the things to be
> "tithed" in the same way as it had the counties in which tithing was
> obligatory.  After Leviticus, no mention seems to be made of what is to be
> tithed, just that it is required.
>
>   
I suspect that the Christian understanding of tithes as relating to more 
than agricultural produce is relatively recent, i.e. perhaps 19th 
century CE. The historic practice in England was for tithes of 
agricultural produce to be collected into "tithe barns" and then I think 
sold to support the church. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe has 
something on this under "Governmental collection of religious 
offerings", I am not sure how accurate or complete. This is something 
different from the church taxes in some European countries.

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/