Culture, Israel, Justice, Religion

In our mouths and in our hearts: Day 22

(Introduction.)
Today: The tithe economy
256. “No bound or hired laborer of a priest shall eat the sacred.” (Leviticus 22:10) = not just a random non-kohen (as in #255), but even an employee of a kohen can’t eat terumah
257. “No uncircumcised man may eat of it.” (Exodus 12:48) = in context it’s about the pesach, but from this is derived a prohibition for an uncircumcised man to eat terumah
258. “No man of Aaron’s offspring who has had an eruption or a discharge shall eat of the sacred donations until he is clean.” (Leviticus 22:4) = any kohen who is tamei (ritually unclean) can’t eat terumah
259. “If a priest’s daughter marries a layman, she may not eat of the sacred gifts.” (Leviticus 22:12) = she loses her priestly status and thus authorization to eat terumah (etc.)
260. “It is the tithes set aside by the Israelites as a gift to God that I give to the Levites as their share.” (Numbers 19:24) = everyone has to give 10% of their produce as a tithe to the Levites
261. “You shall set aside every year a tenth part of all the yield of your sowing that is brought from the field.” (Deuteronomy 14:22) = set aside an additional 10% as “ma’aser sheini” (the second tithe), to eat in Jerusalem or redeem
262. “I have not deposited any of it with the dead.” (Deuteronomy 26:14) = don’t use the proceeds from ma’aser sheini for any purpose other than eating, drinking, or anointing
263.”I have not cleared out any of it while I was unclean.” (Deuteronomy 26:14) = don’t eat ma’aser sheini when you’re tamei
264. “I have not eaten of it while in mourning.” (Deuteronomy 26:14) = don’t eat ma’aser sheini while you’re in aninut (the first stage of mourning, before the deceased has been buried)
265. “You may not partake in your settlements of the tithes of your new grain…” (Deuteronomy 12:17) = don’t eat grain of ma’aser sheini outside Jerusalem
266. “…or wine…” (Deuteronomy 12:17) = don’t drink wine of ma’aser sheini outside Jerusalem
267. “…or oil.” (Deuteronomy 12:17) = don’t eat oil of ma’aser sheini outside Jerusalem
268. “In the fourth year all its fruit shall be aside for jubilation before God.” (Leviticus 19:24) = the fruit of any tree, after being forbidden for the first 3 years (#200), shall have the status of ma’aser sheini during the 4th year, and must be eaten in Jerusalem
269. “When you have set aside in full the tenth part of your yield — in the third year, the year of the tithe — and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, that they may eat their fill in your settlements, you shall declare before Adonai your God: ‘I have cleared out the consecrated portion from the house….’, etc.” (Deuteronomy 26:12-15)
270. “The choice first fruits of your soil you shall bring to the house of Adonai your God.” (Exodus 23:19) = bring your first fruits to the Temple

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