1 At the end H7093 of every seven H7651 years H8141 thou shalt make H6213 a release. H8059
And six H8337 years H8141 thou shalt sow H2232 thy land, H776 and shalt gather H622 in the fruits H8393 thereof: But the seventh H7637 year thou shalt let it rest H8058 and lie H5203 still; that the poor H34 of thy people H5971 may eat: H398 and what they leave H3499 the beasts H2416 of the field H7704 shall eat. H398 In like manner thou shalt deal H6213 with thy vineyard, H3754 and with thy oliveyard. H2132
Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, When ye come H935 into the land H776 which I give H5414 you, then shall the land H776 keep H7673 a sabbath H7676 unto the LORD. H3068 Six H8337 years H8141 thou shalt sow H2232 thy field, H7704 and six H8337 years H8141 thou shalt prune H2168 thy vineyard, H3754 and gather H622 in the fruit H8393 thereof; But in the seventh H7637 year H8141 shall be a sabbath H7676 of rest H7677 unto the land, H776 a sabbath H7676 for the LORD: H3068 thou shalt neither sow H2232 thy field, H7704 nor prune H2168 thy vineyard. H3754
The Spirit H7307 of the Lord H136 GOD H3069 is upon me; because the LORD H3068 hath anointed H4886 me to preach good tidings H1319 unto the meek; H6035 he hath sent H7971 me to bind up H2280 the brokenhearted, H7665 H3820 to proclaim H7121 liberty H1865 to the captives, H7617 and the opening of the prison H6495 to them that are bound; H631 To proclaim H7121 the acceptable H7522 year H8141 of the LORD, H3068 and the day H3117 of vengeance H5359 of our God; H430 to comfort H5162 all that mourn; H57 To appoint H7760 unto them that mourn H57 in Zion, H6726 to give H5414 unto them beauty H6287 for ashes, H665 the oil H8081 of joy H8342 for mourning, H60 the garment H4594 of praise H8416 for the spirit H7307 of heaviness; H3544 that they might be called H7121 trees H352 of righteousness, H6664 the planting H4302 of the LORD, H3068 that he might be glorified. H6286
And Baruch H1263 the son H1121 of Neriah H5374 did H6213 according to all that Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 commanded H6680 him, reading H7121 in the book H5612 the words H1697 of the LORD H3068 in the LORD'S H3068 house. H1004 And it came to pass in the fifth H2549 year H8141 of Jehoiakim H3079 the son H1121 of Josiah H2977 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 in the ninth H8671 month, H2320 that they proclaimed H7121 a fast H6685 before H6440 the LORD H3068 to all the people H5971 in Jerusalem, H3389 and to all the people H5971 that came H935 from the cities H5892 of Judah H3063 unto Jerusalem. H3389 Then read H7121 Baruch H1263 in the book H5612 the words H1697 of Jeremiah H3414 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 in the chamber H3957 of Gemariah H1587 the son H1121 of Shaphan H8227 the scribe, H5608 in the higher H5945 court, H2691 at the entry H6607 of the new H2319 gate H8179 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 in the ears H241 of all the people. H5971 When Michaiah H4321 the son H1121 of Gemariah, H1587 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 had heard H8085 out of the book H5612 all the words H1697 of the LORD, H3068 Then he went down H3381 into the king's H4428 house, H1004 into the scribe's H5608 chamber: H3957 and, lo, all the princes H8269 sat H3427 there, even Elishama H476 the scribe, H5608 and Delaiah H1806 the son H1121 of Shemaiah, H8098 and Elnathan H494 the son H1121 of Achbor, H5907 and Gemariah H1587 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 and Zedekiah H6667 the son H1121 of Hananiah, H2608 and all the princes. H8269 Then Michaiah H4321 declared H5046 unto them all the words H1697 that he had heard, H8085 when Baruch H1263 read H7121 the book H5612 in the ears H241 of the people. H5971 Therefore all the princes H8269 sent H7971 Jehudi H3065 the son H1121 of Nethaniah, H5418 the son H1121 of Shelemiah, H8018 the son H1121 of Cushi, H3570 unto Baruch, H1263 saying, H559 Take H3947 in thine hand H3027 the roll H4039 wherein thou hast read H7121 in the ears H241 of the people, H5971 and come. H3212 So Baruch H1263 the son H1121 of Neriah H5374 took H3947 the roll H4039 in his hand, H3027 and came H935 unto them. And they said H559 unto him, Sit down H3427 now, and read H7121 it in our ears. H241 So Baruch H1263 read H7121 it in their ears. H241 Now it came to pass, when they had heard H8085 all the words, H1697 they were afraid H6342 both H413 one H376 and other, H7453 and said H559 unto Baruch, H1263 We will surely H5046 tell H5046 the king H4428 of all these words. H1697 And they asked H7592 Baruch, H1263 saying, H559 Tell H5046 us now, How didst thou write H3789 all these words H1697 at his mouth? H6310 Then Baruch H1263 answered H559 them, He pronounced H7121 all these words H1697 unto me with his mouth, H6310 and I wrote H3789 them with ink H1773 in the book. H5612
The Spirit G4151 of the Lord G2962 is upon G1909 me, G1691 because G1752 he hath anointed G5548 me G3165 to preach the gospel G2097 to the poor; G4434 he hath sent G649 me G3165 to heal G2390 the brokenhearted, G4937 G2588 to preach G2784 deliverance G859 to the captives, G164 and G2532 recovering of sight G309 to the blind, G5185 to set G649 at G1722 liberty G859 them that are bruised, G2352 To preach G2784 the acceptable G1184 year G1763 of the Lord. G2962
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Deuteronomy 15
Commentary on Deuteronomy 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 15
De 15:1-11. The Seventh Year, a Year of Release for the Poor.
1. At the end of every seven years—during the last of the seven, that is, the sabbatical year (Ex 21:2; 23:11; Le 25:4; Jer 34:14).
2. Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it—not by an absolute discharge of the debt, but by passing over that year without exacting payment. The relief was temporary and peculiar to that year during which there was a total suspension of agricultural labor.
he shall not exact it … of his brother—that is, an Israelite, so called in opposition to a stranger or foreigner.
because it is called the Lord's release—The reason for acquitting a debtor at that particular period proceeded from obedience to the command, and a regard for the honor, of God; an acknowledgment of holding their property of Him, and gratitude for His kindness.
3. Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again—Admission to all the religious privileges of the Israelites was freely granted to heathen proselytes, though this spiritual incorporation did not always imply an equal participation of civil rights and privileges (Le 25:44; Jer 34:14; compare 1Ch 22:2; 2Ch 2:17).
4. Save when there shall be no poor man among you—Apparently a qualifying clause added to limit the application of the foregoing statement [De 15:3]; so that "the brother" to be released pointed to a poor borrower, whereas it is implied that if he were rich, the restoration of the loan might be demanded even during that year. But the words may properly be rendered (as on the Margin) to the end, in order that there may be no poor among you—that is, that none be reduced to inconvenient straits and poverty by unseasonable exaction of debts at a time when there was no labor and no produce, and that all may enjoy comfort and prosperity, which will be the case through the special blessing of God on the land, provided they are obedient.
7-11. If there be among you a poor man … thou shalt not harden thine heart—Lest the foregoing law should prevent the Israelites lending to the poor, Moses here admonishes them against so mean and selfish a spirit and exhorts them to give in a liberal spirit of charity and kindness, which will secure the divine blessing (Ro 12:8; 2Co 9:7).
11. For the poor shall never cease out of the land—Although every Israelite on the conquest of Canaan became the owner of property, yet in the providence of God who foresaw the event, it was permitted, partly as a punishment of disobedience and partly for the exercise of benevolent and charitable feelings, that "the poor should never cease out of the land."
De 15:12-19. Hebrew Servants' Freedom.
12. if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee—The last extremity of an insolvent debtor, when his house or land was not sufficient to cancel his debt, was to be sold as a slave with his family (Le 25:39; 2Ki 4:1; Ne 5:1-13; Job 24:9; Mt 18:25). The term of servitude could not last beyond six years. They obtained their freedom either after six years from the time of their sale or before the end of the seventh year. At the year of jubilee, such slaves were emancipated even if their six years of service were not completed [see on Le 25:39].
13-15. thou shalt not let him go away empty—A seasonable and wise provision for enabling a poor unfortunate to regain his original status in society, and the motive urged for his kindness and humanity to the Hebrew slave was the remembrance that the whole nation was once a degraded and persecuted band of helots in Egypt. Thus, kindness towards their slaves, unparalleled elsewhere in those days, was inculcated by the Mosaic law; and in all their conduct towards persons in that reduced condition, leniency and gentleness were enforced by an appeal which no Israelite could resist.
16, 17. if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee—If they declined to avail themselves of the privilege of release and chose to remain with their master, then by a peculiar form of ceremony they became a party to the transaction, voluntarily sold themselves to their employer, and continued in his service till death.
18. he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee—that is, he is entitled to double wages because his service was more advantageous to you, being both without wages and for a length of time, whereas hired servants were engaged yearly (Le 25:53), or at most for three years (Isa 16:14).
19. All the firstling males of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God—[See on Ex 13:2]; see Ex 22:30).
thou shalt do not work with the firstling of thy bullock—that is, the second firstlings (see De 12:17, 18; 14:23).