*Omitted (should not have been added to the Laws)
**Changed (a misinterpretation of the Law or based on the wrong scripture)
***No Longer Kept (No longer applicable today)
Law #239 To leave a corner of the field uncut for the poor
Lev. 19:10 “And thy shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither
shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the
poor and stranger…”
The command is to always put aside a corner of the field
uncut for the poor or in today’s context, put aside something (money, food) for
the needy.
Law #240 Not to reap that corner
Lev. 19:9 “And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou
shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field nor gather the gleanings of thy
harvest.”
This command reiterates not only putting aside a portion for
the poor but making certain you do not gather it.
Profitable Charities?
We’ve all heard of charities that accept offerings for the
needy but keep a percentage for profit.
The commandment is very clear about what we put aside (or collect) for
the poor, we shall not reap from it.
Law #241 To leave gleanings (left overs)
Lev. 19:9 “…nor gather the gleanings of thy harvest.”
Law #242 Not to gather the gleanings (left overs)
Lev. 19:9 “…nor gather the gleanings of thy harvest.”
Law #243 To leave the gleanings of a vineyard
Lev. 19:10 “And thy shalt not glean thy vineyard..."
Law #244 Not to gather the gleanings of a vineyard
Lev. 19:10 “neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard..."
Law #245 To leave the unformed clusters of grapes
Lev. 19:10 “neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard..”
(This command is a repeat of 243 and needs to be omitted)
Law #246 Not to pick the unformed clusters of grapes
Lev. 19:10 “neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard...”
Law #247 To leave the forgotten sheaves in the field
Deut. 24:19 “When thou cut down thine harvest in thy field and
has forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it, it shall
be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow…”
The same idea is found in this command, except this is
unintentionally leaving behind something or forgetting it. We’re commanded to let that be a blessing to
the poor; that which became an after thought to us so much so that we would
forget it. The under meaning here is
that if we forgot about it, we probably didn’t need it in the first place.
Law #248 Not to retrieve them
The Poor Man’s Tithe
Law #249 To separate the tithe for the poor
Deut. 14:28 “At the end of three years, thou shalt bring all
the tithe of thine increase the same year and shalt lay it up within thy
gates.”
We are commanded to separate tithes for the poor. In verse 29 we see exactly who this “Poor
Man’s Tithe” is for; 29 “And the Levite (because he has no inheritance) and the
widow which are within thy gates shall come and eat and be satisfied…” Although the Israelites are a scattered
nation today, giving unto the poor can be done anywhere, not just in the
land. So it is possible to continue to
honor this commandment.
Law #250-251 To give charity & Not to withhold charity from
the poor
Deut. 15:7-8 “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy
brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God has given
you, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor
brother: vs. 8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely
lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wants.”
In these two commandments, we’re commanded not only to set
aside tithe for the needy but to give to any among you in need, do not hearten
your heart but give freely to him.
The Levitical Tithe
Note: Laws 252-278 can no longer be kept today, therefore *** have been placed by them
Note: Laws 252-278 can no longer be kept today, therefore *** have been placed by them
*** Law #252 To set aside Trumah Gedolah (tithe for the Kohen)
Deut. 18:4 “The first fruit also of thy corn, of thy wine,
and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give
him.
The command is to set aside tithe for the Levite; a “Levitical
Tithe.” We see in vs. 1 that Levites had
no inheritance so the Israelites were commanded to give unto them. We also see in Numbers. 18:21 this portion
was given to them for their service in the Temple. It reads “…I have given the children of Levi
all the 10th in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which
they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.”
This command can no longer be kept, as there is no longer a
Temple or a Levite working in it for this tithe to go to.
Heave Offerings
*** Law #253 The Levite must set aside a tenth of his tithe
Num. 18:26 “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.”
In this command, the Levites who received a tenth from their
Israelite brethren, were to then put aside a 10th and offer a heave
offering. In vs 28 we see it was to be
given to the Priest. Again, this Law can
no longer be kept due to the scattered state of Israel. It is not okay for any minister or pastor to
attempt to collect this offering in the name of a Levite. That is an abomination of the Commandments.
**/***Law #254 Not to preface one tithe to the next, but separate
them in their proper order
Ex. 22:28 “Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the
ruler of thy people.”
According to Maimonides, there is a command found in Ex.
22:28 to separate the tithes in their proper order. This scripture is not a reflection of that
command. In terms of gifts/tithes the
command is actually found in vs. 29 “Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of
thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the first born of thy sons shall give them
unto Me.” This Law must be changed from
what Maimonides originally stated. We’re
commanded not to prolong or delay our giving.
***Law #255 A non-Kohen must not eat Trumah
Lev. 22:10 “There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a
sojourner of the Priest or hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.”
This commandment is for the Priests; that no outsider who was
not incorporated into the Priest’s family eat the holy food. This is a Law that applied when Israel
resided in their land as a nation. It
can’t be kept today but can be remembered as a reflection of the sanctification
expected of the Priests.
***Law #256 A hired worker or a Jewish bondsman of a Kohen must
not eat Trumah (per Maimonides)
Lev. 22:10 This Law, based on the same scripture reiterates
that not even a hired servant may eat the holy food of a Priest. Again, a Law that can no longer be kept today.
***Law #257 An uncircumcised Kohen must not eat Trumah
Ex. 12:48 “And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee and
keep the Passover…let all his males be circumcised and let them come near and
keep it.
It is very likely a Kohen will be circumcised but this Law
is expressing the fact that they were to make certain he was.
Conversion
The command is to first circumcise (or convert) them, then
allow them to keep Passover as well. Vs.
48 says “He shall be as one who is born in the land.” So, incorporation into
the Israelite nation was allowed and when a stranger was incorporated they were
to be considered “born in the land.”
Although Lev. 22:12 shows strangers still have some prohibitions.
One Law for All
Some question if two Laws exist? One for Jews and one for Gentiles
(Christians)? This question is answered
in Ex. 12:49 “One Law shall be to him that is home born, and unto the stranger
that sojourns among you.” There is no
expectation of the Jews that was not expected of a non-Jew follower of the
Torah. One God, one Law, one standard.
***Law #258 An unpure Kohen must not eat Trumah
Lev. 22:4 “What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper,
or has a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be
clean…”
The command is that an impure Priest must not eat of the
holy things until he is clean. Again, a
Law that can’t be kept in today’s world but is still a reminder of the
expectation of purity from a leader of the Most High
***Law #259 A chalalah (in or of a forbidden relationship) must
not eat Trumah
Lev. 22:12 “If the Priest’s daughter also be married unto a
stranger, she may not eat of an offering of the holy things.”
The command is if the Priest’s daughter is married to a
stranger, she may not eat of the holy things.
Another Law no longer relevant today.
