Debt Cancellation, Generosity to the Poor, Freeing of Slaves

A few interesting laws to govern the everyday life of the Israelites were given. These range from finance to charity to livestock.

One extraordinary law is the cancellation of debts every seven years. Any Israelites who has lent money to a fellow Israelite will cancel the debt. If the borrower is a non-Israelite however, then the debt is not cancelled. This is no doubt unfair as seen from an outsider, but nevertheless it is God's will. Perhaps God's lesson here is so that His people do not take money to seriously and that everything belongs to God. The blessing promised for this is that God will even prosper His people more: "you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you."

The character of God can be seen in the following laws which require His people to care for the poor and not have a hardened heart towards them. God commands His people to give or lend to the poor without a grudge. The generosity should extend to the release of slaves. Besides the forgiving of debts, at every seven years, slaves are also set free. In addition, when the slave leaves, God commands the owner to give generously, in fact to let the slave choose whatever from the flock, granary or the winepresses. God reminds His people of how He provided for them when the Israelites freely took whatever they need when they left Egypt. With regard to the flock, the Israelites are supposed to keep the firstborn of the animals for an offering to God, unless the animal has some defect.

Deuteronomy 15

Debts Canceled Every Seven Years

 1 “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. 2 And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the LORD’s release. 3 Of a foreigner you may require it; but you shall give up your claim to what is owed by your brother, 4 except when there may be no poor among you; for the LORD will greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance— 5 only if you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today. 6 For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.

Generosity to the Poor
 
7 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. 9 Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against you, and it become sin among you. 10 You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. 11 For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’

The Law Concerning Bondservants
 
12 “If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13 And when you send him away free from you, you shall not let him go away empty-handed; 14 you shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your winepress. From what the LORD your God has blessed you with, you shall give to him. 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this thing today. 16 And if it happens that he says to you, ‘I will not go away from you,’ because he loves you and your house, since he prospers with you, 17 then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your female servant you shall do likewise. 18 It shall not seem hard to you when you send him away free from you; for he has been worth a double hired servant in serving you six years. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do.

The Law Concerning Firstborn Animals