Second: Num. 18:26, 30, 31: “Thus speak unto the Levites and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up a heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe.” “Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then ... ye shall eat of it in every place, ye and your households; for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.” Third: Deut. 14:22, 23, 28, 29: “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of the seed that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and of the firstlings of thy herd and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.” “At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee), and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.” How long the Mosaic order was carried out we do not know. Samuel in his protest against Israel’s asking for a king (1st Sam. 8:15,17), tells them that “he will take the tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants.” “Also he will take the tenth of your sheep; and ye shall be his servants.” It is likely that the sacred use of the tithe was early perverted under the kings. We hear no more of this system until the time of Hezekiah (726 B. C.), who instituted once more “the courses of the priests and Levites” (2d Chron. 31:2-5, 10-12), and “commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and Levites.” The people responded at once, “and the tithes of all things brought they in abundantly.” So abundant were they that the chief priest reported that, “since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have left plenty: for the Lord hath blessed his people, and that which is left is this great store.” So great was this store that chambers in the house of the Lord were prepared for it, and men were appointed to oversee this surplus, who “brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully,” and kept them in the places prepared for them. Before this reformation Amos had sounded his warning in these ironical words. Amos 4:4,5: “Come to Bethel and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgressions; and bring your sacrifices every morning and your tithes after three years: for this liketh you, oh, ye children of Israel, saith the Lord God.”