Numbers 18:25-26 (ESV)
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Moreover, you shall speak and say to the Levites, ‘When you take from the people of Israel the tithe that I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution from it to the LORD, a tithe of the tithe.
The tithes that the nation of Israel gave to the Lord were used to support the tribe of Levi. A few verses back God said this to the tribe of Levi:
Numbers 18:20 (ESV)
And the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.
They did not get an inheritance of land as their brothers. They, instead, received the priesthood as their portion. Of the tithes they received from the people they were to make their homes and care for their needs. But not all of what they received was theirs. They were too, also, tithe. This tithe of a tithe was to show them their own responsibility toward worship and honor of God of their possessions. Those who serve are not exempt from giving back to God a thankful blessing. When God gives us His gifts we are to say thanks by worshipping and honoring Him with our gifts back to Him, to further His work among us. They were not exempt just because they served the Lord. There was still something tangible they had to give. We need to remember that giving is both an act of praise and an act of required responsibility. The two are not mutually exclusive from one another. Giving out of love and praise to God is as worthy as giving out of responsibility and service.
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