Deuteronomy 15:1-6

(2) THE YEAR OF RELEASE (Deuteronomy 15:1-6)

At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. 2 And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he hath lent unto his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother; because Jehovah's release hath been proclaimed, 3 Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it: but whatsoever of thine is with thy brother thy hand shall release. 4 Howbeit there shall be no poor with thee; (for Jehovah will surely bless thee in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it;) 5 if only thou diligently hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe to do all this commandment which I command thee this day. 6 For Jehovah thy God will bless thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over thee.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 15:1-6

263.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of releasing all creditors every seven years.

264.

Is there a distinction in legal and moral obligations? Discuss.

265.

Are we promised freedom from poverty if we are obedient to Jehovah?

266.

How account for the treatment of foreigners and other nations as in Deuteronomy 15:3; Deuteronomy 15:6?

267.

Are there present-day laws like those of Deuteronomy 15:1-6? At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 15:1-6

2 And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother; for the Lord's release is proclaimed.
3 Of a foreigner you may exact it; but whatever of yours is with your brother [Israelite] your hand shall release.
4 But there will be no poor among you, for the Lord will surely bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance to possess,
5 If only you carefully listen to the voice of the Lord your God, to do watchfully all these commandments which I command you this day.
6 When the Lord your God blesses you as He promised you, then 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.

COMMENT 15:1-6

It is interesting that a number of our states have very similar laws as this one. A man cannot be held indefinitely for a debt, and in most states if the overdue money is not collected by the creditor within a specified number of years, the borrower is no longer legally held responsible for the debt.

The year of release apparently corresponds with the sabbatical year in which the land was to rest and lie fallow (Exodus 23:10-11; Leviticus 25:1-7; Leviticus 25:18-22.) In that year there was to be a general remission of debts. It was a wholesale year of recovery in every quarter. As every seventh day was to be a sabbath day, every seventh year was to be a sabbath year.

Did this permanently release the debtor of his responsibility? On this, the critics are divided. This does not imply that the debt was to be remitted, but only that the debtor was not then to be pressed for payment. A law that every seventh year debts should be remitted, would have frustrated itself, for on such conditions no one would lend, and so there would be no debtors (Pulpit). Similarly, A. Gosman states, The clear reference to the land-rest or release, which was for the year, and the force of the Hebrew word [nagas]rendered exact, more correctly urge or press, and the whole spirit of the Mosaic law, which was not to destroy obligations of this kind, but guard the poor and unfortunate against undue severity or oppression, are all in favor of the interpretation which regards the release as for the year.

Whether the release was permanent or temporary, the godly Israelite should not have been hesitant to loan no matter what year it was. It might have been a temptation to withhold a loan from the needy in the 5th or 6th year when there was little hope of having it repaid, but was it therefore right for one to refuse help to his brother? Jesus-' teaching goes far beyond this, instructing us to give to those in need out of loverepaid or not, Matthew 5:42, Luke 6:34-35. Of course, this does not cancel any Christian's moral and spiritual obligation to repay anything he borrows. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; But the righteous dealeth graciously, and giveth (Psalms 37:21). Surely a Christian's sense of responsibility in this area goes beyond mere civil code.

On the question as to whether this release is permanent or not, see further remarks with Deuteronomy 15:7-11, below.

THERE SHALL BE NO POOR WITH THEE (Deuteronomy 15:4)That is comparatively. If they were obedient, and followed God's directions and commandments, And if the very directions given here and elsewhere concerning helping the poor were followed, no one would go cold or hungry.

FOR JEHOVAH THY GOD WILL BLESS THEE (Deuteronomy 15:6)The blessings of this verse, as elsewhere in Deuteronomy, were promised and assured an obedient Israel.