For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he {is} the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.

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 an heave offering of it for the LORD, {even} a tenth {part} of the tithe.

And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given {them}: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

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.

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, {even} unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that {there shall} not {be room} enough {to receive it}. {pour...: Heb. empty out}

Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth. {as long...: Heb. all thy days}

And the first of all the firstfruits of all {things}, and every oblation of all, of every {sort} of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house. {And the first: or, And the chief}

And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony. {that...: Heb. his sale by the fathers}

The firstfruit {also} of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.

And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If {it seem} good unto you, and {that it be} of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, {that are} left in all the land of Israel, and with them {also} to the priests and Levites {which are} in their cities {and} suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: {send...: Heb. break forth and send} {in their...: Heb. in the cities of their suburbs}

But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it {is} a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.

And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, {were} overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. {under...: Heb. at the hand}

And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD {given} by Moses. {by: Heb. by the hand of}