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The Law commanded: Thou shalt not steal (Ex. 20:15). The commandment not only applied between equals, as we tend to view it, it applied also between the (relatively strong) community and its (relatively weak) members. The community had no arbitrary claim on the labor or capital of its members.

However, when we misunderstand the tithe, we miss one of the great differences between Israel under the Law and her neighboring kingdoms: Israel did not use the neighbors’ coercive tax structure to fund community or national needs. God said that simply collecting the land rent would suffice. This is the only community or common fund of substance mentioned in the Law. Later innovations by the kings were outside the Law of Moses; most were noted as harmful.

YEA AND AMEN!

This is a great commentary to pass onto all of your socialist 'Christian' friends who think the commie/socialist welfare system is Godly/kind/caring, etc.