Custom of the Tithe: Marking the Tenth
Illustration★★★It was the custom of the Jews to select the tenth of their sheep after this manner: the lambs were separated from the dams, and enclosed in a sheep-cote, with only one narrow way out; the dams were at the entrance. On opening the gate, the lambs hastened to join the dams; and a man placed at the entrance, with a rod dipped in ochre, touched every tenth lamb, and so marked it with his rod, saying, “Let this be holy.” Hence, saith the Lord by the prophet Ezekiel, “I will cause you to pass under the rod.”
The point
The Jewish custom of marking the tenth lamb as holy and consecrated through a ritual passage, prefiguring Christ as refuge.
Scripture
Leviticus 27:32Ezekiel 20:37
Audience
Adults
Tone
Convicting · Comforting
To tell aloud
under a minute · 103 words