Deuteronomy 24:19-22

Of Generosity to the Landless. To the gçr, the orphan and the widow shall be left the gleanings of fields, olive-groves and vineyards. It is interesting that no parallels are found in the earlier legislation of J or E. H, Leviticus 19:9 f. forbids the full reaping of the corners of the field and gathering of the gleanings (repeated Deuteronomy 23:22) and the gleaning of the vines and their fallen fruit; these are for the poor and the gçr. This seems not earlier (Dillm., etc.), but later than D, for the deliberate reservation of the cornersis a more developed provision than the allotment of what was left through carelessness. Why D alone includes olives is not clear, except that this agrees with its careful regard of the details of rural life. Both laws sanction an existing practice described in Ruth 2 as dependent on the generosity of the cultivator.

Was there anything more behind it? Attention has been drawn to the fact that some peoples leave the last sheaf on the field under the superstition that it contains the corn-spirit, and being therefore dangerous is easily relinquished to strangers (Frazer, Golden Bough, ii. 171 f., 232 f.). I am told that in the shires of Lincoln and Norfolk it was the practice till 60 or 80 years ago to shape part of a sheaf into a -corn-baby" and to bury it in the field, in order to ensure the next crop. It is possible that in some cases the custom of leaving the gleanings to the poor may have started from such superstitions. But those who see in these the sole origin of the custom ignore the natural promptings of the hearts of simple, peasant peoples to care for the needy. There are no traces of the superstition in D, H or Ruth 2. D's appeal to the self-interest of the harvesters (that thy God may bless thee, etc.) is rather one of his many illustrations of his favourite principle that obedience to God's ethical demands will be rewarded by prosperity (cp. Deuteronomy 14:29; Deuteronomy 15:4 f., Deuteronomy 15:10; Deuteronomy 15:18; Deuteronomy 23:20; cp. Deuteronomy 17:20). Otherwise the motives of the laws are purely humane and in both sets the humanity is enforced by religious considerations. In D the motive is characteristically gratitude to God (Deuteronomy 24:22), in H it is as characteristically the simple fact: I am Jehovah thy God. The duties enforced are observed at this day in Palestine. -The poorest among the people, the widow and the orphan, are not infrequently seen following the reapers"; and -the poor are often seen after the gathering in of the crop going from tree to tree and collecting the few olives that may have been left" (Van Lennep, Bible Lands, etc., 78, 128). -It is natural with them not to gather stray ears or to cut all the standing ones which would be looked upon as avarice; every bad act is avoided as much as possible "before the blessing," as the corn is very often called; the law of Moses … is innate with them. The produce of the gleanings … may enable a widow to have bread enough for the winter" (Baldensperger, PEFQ, 1907, 19). On the Arabs kindness to the sojourner see Doughty, i. 345.