What is a tithe? Malachi 3:10

Malachi 3:10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

In this Scripture, God has given us a clear and informative interpretation of what tithes are. He uses the words “storehouse” and “food” to identify what He is “being robbed of.” Nowhere in this verse does God use the words “money,” “cash,” “gold,” “silver,” or any other form of currency in order to describe or define tithes!

I am completely aware of the argument which alleges that there was no actual currency at the time, and therefore, the people, being farmers, used food as a form of currency. We are going to learn just how big of a lie that allegation is in just a moment, but before we do, we must understand that whoever dares to add or take anything from God’s Word is doing the equivalent of picking a fight with the Almighty. “God will add to him the plagues described in this book and God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city.” Revelation 22:18b and 19b

It’s okay for us to view history as a source for understanding God’s Word. However, this is not a valid option when the part of history that we are talking about is already found in the Bible. If the availability of currency has already been recorded in God’s Word, which we will get to in a moment, then we should accept it. Getting out of God’s Word and viewing what is obvious in our own minds is leaning on our own understanding.

The Bible teaches in Malachi 3:10 that God’s tithe was food. Therefore, we should honor His Word, because it also clearly states that there was plenty of monetary currency available to have a cash-tithe if He wanted it that way. For instance, here’s the proof that currency was so well known and used during the time of Abraham that it even fluctuated. Genesis 23:16b: “four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants.”

Here’s the proof that trade, which goes hand in hand with currency, had been an ancient business even during the Bible era. 1st Chronicles 4:22b and 23a: “These records are from ancient times. They were the potters.” There is also proof that merchants and traders were abundant enough to be considered a source of monetary revenue for kings. 2nd Chronicles 9:14a: “not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders.”

The following explanation also proves that hundreds of thousands of Israelites did have access to and used currency. According to Deuteronomy 14:24-26, the Israelites that lived far from God’s chosen place of sacrifice would change their tithe into silver, so they could travel lighter and once at the place of sacrifice they were to use the silver to buy their tithe back. According to Exodus 12:37, 600,000 men followed Moses out of Egypt to go and settle the Promised Land. A conservative percentage of those that lived too far from the place of Sacrifice to carry their tithe would be about 50% or 300,000 men. From the start, 300,000 men were following God’s orders to use currency and this number would grow with each passing year. God gave 300,000 of His children the command to use currency to travel. Therefore, the Bible teaches that currency was abundant and available. Knowing this should make us suspicious of anyone who looks towards “history” and claims there was no currency.

These are just a few biblical examples of the abundance of a monetary currency. There are many more to be found, like the one in Exodus 30:11-16, in which every male, which was over 600,000, needed to be atoned for with money! Sounds unbelievable? Read Exodus 38:26 and see that 603,550 men participated in the census and paid the half shekel!