Charles Ellicott Commentary Deuteronomy 15
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Deuteronomy 15
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Deuteronomy 15
"At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release." — Deuteronomy 15:1 (ASV)
At the end of every seven years you shall make a release. —The Law in this place is an extension of that which we find in Exodus 21:2 and following, and Leviticus 25:3 and following. There was not only to be a manumission of Hebrew slaves and a Sabbath for the land in the seventh year, but also a release of debts, of which all the Israelites must have the benefit.
"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;)" — Deuteronomy 15:4 (ASV)
Save when there shall be no poor (man) among you. — This clause is the source of a very interesting passage in the Acts of the Apostles. (Compare to Deuteronomy 4:34.) The passage from Acts states: Great grace was upon them all, for neither was there among them any (one) that lacked. The words at the beginning of the verse in Hebrew, “save when,” may also be rendered (as in the Margin) “to the end that,” or “to such an extent that there shall be no poor man among you.” Those who can well afford to pay need not be excused from their obligations.
For the Lord your God shall greatly bless you. — So in Acts 4:33, Great grace was upon them all. The blessing need not be equal and universal prosperity, if those who have the good things of this world will always remember the poor to such an extent that no member of the community will be left in want.
"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." — Deuteronomy 15:5 (ASV)
Only if thou carefully hearken. —Then there will be none among thee in want. So Rashi expounds, in the very spirit of the passage in Acts 4.
"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." — Deuteronomy 15:6 (ASV)
As he promised you. —I will bless thee was said to Abram (Genesis 12:2).
You shall lend. —The root of the word in Hebrew is closely connected with the word for “slave.” The borrower is servant to the lender (Proverbs 22:7).
"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;" — Deuteronomy 15:7 (ASV)
A poor man. -”That needeth anything.”
Within any of thy gates. —“The poor of thine own city come before the poor of another city.”
Thou Shalt not harden. —“There are some men who ‘grieve’ (grudge) whether they give or not;” therefore it is said, “Thou shalt not harden thy heart; there are some who stretch out the hand (to give), and yet close it; therefore it is said, Thou shalt not shut thine hand.”
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