Poor

The general kindly spirit of the law toward the poor is sufficiently shown by such passages as (15:7) for the reason that (ver. 11) “the poor shall never cease out of the land.” Among the special enactments in their favor the following must be mentioned:

• The right of gleaning. (Leviticus 19:9,10; 24:19,21)
• From the produce of the land in sabbatical years the poor and the stranger were to have their portion. (Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 25:6)
• Re-entry upon land in the jubilee year, with the limitation as to town homes. (Leviticus 25:25-30)
• Prohibition of usury and of retention of pledges. (Exodus 22:25-27; Leviticus 25:3,5,37) etc.
• Permanent bondage forbidden, and manumission of Hebrew bondmen or bondwomen enjoined in the sabbatical and jubilee years. (Leviticus 25:39-42,47-54; 15:12-15)
• Portions from the tithes to be shared by the poor after the Levites. (14:28; 26:12,13)
• The poor to partake in entertainments at the feasts of Weeks and Tabernacles. (16:11,14) see Nehe 8:10
• Daily payment of wages. (Leviticus 19:13) Principles similar to those laid down by Moses are inculcated in the New Testament, as (Luke 3:11; 14:13; Acts 6:1; Galatians 2:10; James 2:15)