Commentary on Harmony of the Law Volume 1 Complete John Calvin
HARMONY OF THE LAW · VOLUME 1 strangers. This may easily be seen by calculating the years; for otherwise the third year would have often fallen on the Sabbatical one, in which all agriculture was at a stand-still. Now, this was a most equitable arrangement, that the priests and Levites having been well provided for during two years, should admit their poor brethren and strangers to a share. Some part was thus withdrawn from their abundance, lest they should give themselves up to luxurious habits; and thus it was brought about that not more than a twelfth portion every year should remain to them. In sum, there was one peculiar year in every seven in which the Levites did not alone receive the tithes for their own proper use, but shared them with the orphans, and widows, and strangers, and the rest of the poor. "They shall eat (He says) and be satisfied," who would otherwise have to suffer hunger, "that the Lord may bless thee," (verse 29;) by which promise He encourages them to be liberal.
Deuteronomy 26
Deuteronomy 26:12-15
12. When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
12. Postquam compleveris decimare omnes decimas fructuum tuorum anno tertio, anno decimae, et dederis Levitae, peregrino, pupillo, et viduae, et comederint intra portas tuas, et saturati fuerint:
13. Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:
13. Tunc dices coram Jehova Deo tuo, Subduxi sanctificatum e domo, et etiam dedi illud Levitae, et peregrino, pupillo, et viduae, secundum omne prtaeceptum tuum quod praecepisti mihi: non transgressus sum a praeceptis tuis, neque oblitus sum.