Did Abraham Tithe?

The story of Abraham and Melchizedek is often used as an example of income-tithing:

Genesis 14:18–20 ESV And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) ₁₉ And he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
₂₀ and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

However, Abraham was not practicing income-tithing. In context, Abraham had just defeated several kings in battle (vv. 15–16). Abraham gave a “tenth” to Melchizedek from the spoils of the battle, and not from his personal income (Heb. 7:4)!

The story even makes it clear that the spoils of the battle never belonged to Abraham. The spoils were divided among the victorious kings only after Abraham had given a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek. Abraham himself never took ownership of any of the spoils (Gen. 14:23–24).