God instructs the Levites to honor Him by offering back a portion of the tithes they receive from the Israelites as a reminder that He is the ultimate provider.
Numbers 18:26 commands the Levites with these words: “Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, ‘When you take from the sons of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the LORD, a tithe of the tithe.’” (Numbers 18:26). Historically, the Levites descended from Levi, the third son of Jacob, who likely lived in the 19th or 18th century BC. Unlike the other tribes of Israel that received distinct territorial portions of the Promised Land, the Levites had their inheritance from the tithes offered by the Israelites rather than from land ownership. This arrangement provided for their material needs as they focused on the spiritual care and service of the tabernacle (and later the temple).
In this verse, God calls the Levites to set apart part of those very tithes they receive—called “a tithe of the tithe”—to present to the LORD. Even though the Levites benefitted from the people’s giving, they themselves were not exempt from demonstrating gratitude and obedience to God. The act of lifting up a portion to Him underscored that every blessing, whether farmland or service in the temple, ultimately originated from the LORD. It also kept the Levites mindful that they, too, were called to be faithful stewards of what He entrusted to them.
This principle of giving back from what one receives appears throughout Scripture, culminating in the New Testament’s encouragement for believers to be cheerful givers. Jesus Himself referenced the heart of true giving when He spoke about matters more significant than mere external tithes, such as justice and mercy (Luke 11:42). Yet, as Numbers 18:26 reveals, though the Levites had no land, they were to consistently worship God by presenting an offering from their own portion of the tithes, faithfully aligning themselves under His provision and reminding the entire community that everything belonged to Him.
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Numbers 18:26 meaning
Numbers 18:26 commands the Levites with these words: “Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, ‘When you take from the sons of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the LORD, a tithe of the tithe.’” (Numbers 18:26). Historically, the Levites descended from Levi, the third son of Jacob, who likely lived in the 19th or 18th century BC. Unlike the other tribes of Israel that received distinct territorial portions of the Promised Land, the Levites had their inheritance from the tithes offered by the Israelites rather than from land ownership. This arrangement provided for their material needs as they focused on the spiritual care and service of the tabernacle (and later the temple).
In this verse, God calls the Levites to set apart part of those very tithes they receive—called “a tithe of the tithe”—to present to the LORD. Even though the Levites benefitted from the people’s giving, they themselves were not exempt from demonstrating gratitude and obedience to God. The act of lifting up a portion to Him underscored that every blessing, whether farmland or service in the temple, ultimately originated from the LORD. It also kept the Levites mindful that they, too, were called to be faithful stewards of what He entrusted to them.
This principle of giving back from what one receives appears throughout Scripture, culminating in the New Testament’s encouragement for believers to be cheerful givers. Jesus Himself referenced the heart of true giving when He spoke about matters more significant than mere external tithes, such as justice and mercy (Luke 11:42). Yet, as Numbers 18:26 reveals, though the Levites had no land, they were to consistently worship God by presenting an offering from their own portion of the tithes, faithfully aligning themselves under His provision and reminding the entire community that everything belonged to Him.