Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.^(B)

²² and^[a] this stone that I have set up as a pillar^(A) will be God’s house,^(B) and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.^(C)”

³⁰ “‘A tithe^(A) of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy^(B) to the Lord. ³¹ Whoever would redeem^(C) any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value^(D) to it. ³² Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod^(E)—will be holy to the Lord. ³³ No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution.^(F) If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.^(G)’”

²¹ “I give to the Levites all the tithes^(A) in Israel as their inheritance^(B) in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.^{(C) 22} From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die.^{(D) 23} It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance^(E) for the generations to come.^(F) They will receive no inheritance^(G) among the Israelites.^{(H) 24} Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord.^(I) That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’”

²⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁶ “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you^(J) as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering.^{(K) 27} Your offering will be reckoned^(L) to you as grain from the threshing floor^(M) or juice from the winepress.^{(N) 28} In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes^(O) you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest. ²⁹ You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’

³⁰ “Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress.^{(P) 31} You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the tent of meeting.^{(Q) 32} By presenting the best part^(R) of it you will not be guilty in this matter;^(S) then you will not defile the holy offerings^(T) of the Israelites, and you will not die.’”

¹⁵ He will take a tenth^(A) of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants.

¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

Contributions for Worship^(A)

² Hezekiah^(B) assigned the priests and Levites to divisions^(C)—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, to minister,^(D) to give thanks and to sing praises^(E) at the gates of the Lord’s dwelling.^{(F) 3} The king contributed^(G) from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals as written in the Law of the Lord.^{(H) 4} He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion^(I) due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. ⁵ As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits^(J) of their grain, new wine,^(K) olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. ⁶ The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe^(L) of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps.^{(M) 7} They began doing this in the third month and finished in the seventh month.^{(N) 8} When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and blessed^(O) his people Israel.

⁹ Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps; ¹⁰ and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok,^(P) answered, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the Lord has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.”^(Q)

¹¹ Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the Lord, and this was done. ¹² Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts. Konaniah,^(R) a Levite, was the overseer in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was next in rank. ¹³ Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad,^(S) Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath and Benaiah were assistants of Konaniah and Shimei his brother. All these served by appointment of King Hezekiah and Azariah the official in charge of the temple of God.

¹⁴ Kore son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the contributions made to the Lord and also the consecrated gifts. ¹⁵ Eden,^(T) Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shekaniah assisted him faithfully in the towns^(U) of the priests, distributing to their fellow priests according to their divisions, old and young alike.

¹⁶ In addition, they distributed to the males three years old or more whose names were in the genealogical records^(V)—all who would enter the temple of the Lord to perform the daily duties of their various tasks, according to their responsibilities and their divisions. ¹⁷ And they distributed to the priests enrolled by their families in the genealogical records and likewise to the Levites twenty years old or more, according to their responsibilities and their divisions. ¹⁸ They included all the little ones, the wives, and the sons and daughters of the whole community listed in these genealogical records. For they were faithful in consecrating themselves.

¹⁹ As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farmlands around their towns or in any other towns,^(W) men were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among them and to all who were recorded in the genealogies of the Levites.

⁴⁴ At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms^(A) for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes.^(B) From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.^(C)