Food Tithe

I can't recall if I wrote this, or got it from someone else. I cannot provide attribution.

What types of tithes were given?

There were three categories of tithes practiced under the law. According to A Book of Jewish Concepts by Philip Birnbaum, they were the First Tithe, Second Tithe, and Poor Tithe. The three tithes are called in Hebrew: ma'aser rishon, ma'aser sheni, ma'aser 'ani, respectively. Israelites were also required to contribute terumah (gifts to the priests) from the fruits of their fields before they paid their tithes to the Levites.

Now the First Tithe consisted of one-tenth of the whole produce of the soil which was to be assigned for the maintenance of the Levite priests and out of this the Levite priests were to dedicate a tenth to God for the use of the high priest.

Now 2) second tithe which the owner must consume in Jerusalem (Deut 14:22-27); Now the actual second tithe of produce could be converted into money, plus a fifth of its value, and reconverted into food in Jerusalem (Deut. 14:24-27).

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, further elucidates this subject. It states: "the second tithe was the remaining nine-tenths had to be set apart and consumed in Jerusalem. Those who lived far from Jerusalem could change this Second Tithe into money with the addition of a 5th part of its value. Only food, drink or ointment could be bought for the money (Ma`aser Sheni 2:1; compare ). The tithe of cattle belonged to the Second Tithe, and was to be used for the feast in Jerusalem (Zebhachim <5:8>)."

The third tithe called the poorman's tithe which takes the place of the second tithe in the third and sixth year of the seven-year cycle culminating in the sabbatical year, according to A book of Jewish Concepts (p. 383 ). It should also be noted that the kings sometimes neglected to follow the Law of Moses and did not always keep the tithing system.