Albert Barnes Commentary Deuteronomy 15:1-11

"At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. 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. Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it: but whatsoever of thine is with thy brother thy hand shall release. 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;) 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. 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. If there be with thee a poor man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates in thy land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother; but thou shalt surely open thy hand unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need [in that] which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a base thought in thy heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou give him nought; and he cry unto Jehovah against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thy heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him; because that for this thing Jehovah thy God will bless thee in all thy work, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto. For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor, in thy land." — Deuteronomy 15:1-11 (ASV)

The year of release is no doubt identical with the sabbatical year of the earlier legislation (Exodus 23:10 and following, and Leviticus 25:2 and following), the command of the older legislation being amplified here. The release was probably for the year, not total and final, and had reference only to loans lent because of poverty (compare Deuteronomy 15:4, Deuteronomy 15:7). Even so, the law was found to be too stringent for the avarice of the people, because it was one of those which the rabbis made of none effect by their traditions.

(Deuteronomy 15:2) Because it is called the Lord’s release—this should be translated as: because proclamation has been made of the Lord’s release. The verb is impersonal and implies that the solemnity of the year of release has been publicly announced.

(Deuteronomy 15:3) A foreigner would not be bound by the restriction of the sabbatical year and therefore would have no claim to its special remissions and privileges. He could earn his usual income in the seventh year just as in other years and, therefore, is not excused from the liability to pay a debt any more in that year than in others.

(Deuteronomy 15:4) This is not inconsistent with Deuteronomy 15:11. The meaning seems simply to be, “You must release the debt for the year, except when there is no poor person concerned, a contingency which may happen, for the Lord will greatly bless you.” The general object of these precepts, as also of the year of Jubilee and the laws respecting inheritance, is to prevent the total ruin of a needy person, and his disappearance from the families of Israel by the sale of his inherited property.

(Deuteronomy 15:9) Literally: Beware that there is not in your heart a word which is worthlessness (compare Deuteronomy 13:13 note).