The tithe wasn't money at all. In fact, if someone converted the tithe to money, he add to tack on an additional 20% penalty.
Some more of your incomplete knowledge. There were actually three tithes...
First...
Lev 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.
Lev 27:31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. Lev 27:32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
Lev 27:33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
and again if you had read the entire passage it would be obvious how this worked. Every tenth critter that passed under the rod (Now this was not of the herd, but of those born this year in the herd, the increase over last year) was God's. You didn't give Him the best or the worst, you gave Him the tenth one regardless. Now if you wanted to keep that animal, you had to redeem it by buying it with 100% of its value plus 20%, or 120% of its value. Else you just let it go to God.
Second...
Deu 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
Deu 14:23 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 the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
Deu 14:24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
Deu 14:25
Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:
Notice there is no mention of an additional 20% here. That was only if you redeemed any animal of the first tithe. If you were a craftsman and did not raise animals, then 10% of your increase was tithe and that was that.
Deu 14:26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
Deu 12:17 Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:
Deu 12:18 But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.
Deu 16:16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
Deu 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
This is the festival tithe to keep the Pilgrim Festivals as they are called. There was also an offering taken three times in a year.
Third...
Deu 14:28 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:
Deu 14:29 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.
On the third and sixth year of the seven year cycle (you do know about the seven year cycles adn the Jubile, don't you?) another tithe was given to support the Levites, the fatherless and the widows. This was the system that took care of those who could not take care of themselves. Remember the tribe of Levi was not given any inheritance in the land, they had no way to grow food or generate income. Their duty was to serve God.
So there were two tithes every year, 20% of your income.
The first 10% went to God for the upkeep of the Temple andthe religious system. There was no civil government, Israel lived in a Theocracy.
The second 10% went back to you and you spent it to keep the Holydays...
Deu 12:5 But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:
Deu 12:6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
Deu 12:7
And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.
Then two years out of seven there was an additional tenth for the Levites, fatherless and widows. This was a fair and equitable system much better than the welfare system of today.
Anyhoo, some people spout off about things they have no knowledge of.
