Devarim 14:25

25 Then shalt thou exchange it for kesef, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which Hashem Eloheicha shall choose;

Devarim 14:25 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 14:25

Thou shalt then turn it into money
The tithe, which would be lighter and easier carriage:

and bind up the money in thine hand;
put it into a bag or purse, and tie it up and carry it in the hand; which some think was ordered, that it might not be mixed with other money; but it seems only to have respect to journeying, and making it fit for that. The Jewish writers {u}, some of them, give a different sense of the word we render "bind up", and interpret it of marking the silver, or impressing a form, figure, or image on it with the hand; they mean that it must be coined money; so Maimonides ^F23, they may not profane the sacred tithe with money not coined, nor with money not current, nor with money which is not in a man's power; for it is said,

in thine hand;
which the man is possessed of and is his own property:

and shalt go unto the place which the Lord that God shall choose;
carrying the money along with him, for which he sold the tithe.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Bartenora in Misn. Beracot, c. 7. sect. 1. Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Maaser Sheni, c. 11. sect. 2. & in Misn. Sabbat, c. 18. sect. 1.
F23 In Misn. Maaser Sheni, c. 11. sect. 2.

Devarim 14:25 In-Context

23 And thou shalt eat before Hashem Eloheicha, in the place which He shall choose to place Shmo there, the ma’aser (tithe) of thy dagan (grain), of thy tirosh (new wine), and of thine yitzhar (fresh oil), and the bekhorot (firstlings) of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to stand in awe of Hashem Eloheicha always.

24 And if the journey be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which Hashem Eloheicha shall choose to set Shmo there, when Hashem Eloheicha hath blessed thee;

25 Then shalt thou exchange it for kesef, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which Hashem Eloheicha shall choose;

26 And thou shalt spend that kesef for whatsoever thy nefesh desireth after, for cattle, or for sheep, or for yayin, or for shekhar (fermented drink), or for whatsoever thy nefesh desireth; and thou shalt eat there before Hashem Eloheicha, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,

27 And the Levi that is within thy she’arim; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no chelek nor nachalah with thee.