Numbers 18:26

Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering.

From Background Notes [BN] for May 5^th & 6^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Consistent with Torah instruction, the tithe was gathered together into "God's house,” that is, stored in the central place of worship where it could be a shared benefit to all of God's people. From there, God often authorized the distribution of the tithe for the needs of priests, Levites and even the people.

By centralizing its management, God was protecting the tithe from arbitrary and crooked disposition of its funds. Of course, this depended on the holy life of Israel's leadership. This idea of bringing the tenth into the storehouse has come to be called "storehouse tithing.” Before any other worthy cause was entitled to the treasure of God's people, a tenth of that treasure was to be placed at the central sanctuary in the presence of Yahweh. How was this tithe used?

1. Tithe was given to the Levites for the temple ministry (Numbers 18:20-21).

2. Tithe was designated for the Lord’s feasts and sacrifices (Deuteronomy 12:17-18; 14:22). This command was considered by Jewish interpreters to be for a second tithe (see Leviticus 27:30 and Numbers 18:21 for the first; also note Malachi. 3:8), which was brought to the central sanctuary either in kind or in money. Apparently the giver could use a part of this tithe for a feast at the sanctuary (vv. 26- 27).

3. Tithe was taken every third year for the welfare of the Levites, strangers, orphans and widows (Deuteronomy 14:26-29). This tithe may have been separate from the others, though we are not certain.

At any rate, each Jewish family was responsible to give not ten percent, but approximately 19 percent, once the amounts are tallied!  [BN, 4-5]

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