CHAPTER 15 THE GENEROSITY REQUIRED TO THOSE IN EXTREME POVERTY AND TO BONDSMEN BEING RELEASED, AND THE REQUIREMENT FOR COMPASSION IN ALL RELATIONSHIPS. Moses would expect that his reference to this three year cycle in Deuteronomy 14:28 would bring to mind the Israelite way of considering the passage... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And this is the manner of the release. Every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbour; he shall not exact it of his neighbour and his brother, because Yahweh's release has been proclaimed. Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand s... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ Howbeit there shall be no poor with you, (for Yahweh will surely bless you in the land which Yahweh your God is giving to you for an inheritance to possess it), if only you diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to observe to do all this commandment which I command you this day.' A fu... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ For Yahweh your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.' Indeed if they were truly faithful to Him and His covenant, and laid up their tithes as Yahweh decreed, Ya... [ Continue Reading ]
THE POVERTY-STRICKEN DEBTOR IS NOT TO BE DESPISED (DEUTERONOMY 15:7). Having laid down the law for the relief of debtors the question of those who might seek to avoid it is now raised. They are not to seek to avoid their responsibility, otherwise Yahweh will be displeased and will act accordingly.... [ Continue Reading ]
RELEASE OF HEBREW BONDSMEN AND BONDSWOMEN (DEUTERONOMY 15:12). Similar generosity must be shown to ‘Hebrew bondsmen and bondswomen' when they are released after their seven year contract. What follows is not simply the law relating to such as in Exodus 21:1 onwards, most of which is ignored, it is r... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CONSUMPTION OF THE FIRSTBORN MALES IN WORSHIP BEFORE YAHWEH (DEUTERONOMY 15:19). Moses now reintroduces the firstborn males. These are Yahweh's because He spared them on the night of the Passover and they must therefore be sacrificed to Him, with the meat originally going to the priests. They ca... [ Continue Reading ]