Beggars in the Old Testament

In Eastern cities there are usually many beggars. In Old Testament times the idea of a beggar going from door to door to ask for alms was little known among the Jews. The law of Moses provided for the needy by requiring that the Jews purposely leave some of the harvest for the poor. Also mortgaged property was returned to the original owner at the year of jubilee. However, beggars were not entirely unknown, for Hannah speaks of them in her song of thanksgiving (1 Samuel 2:8). The Psalmist promised that beggary would be the lot of the wicked (Psalm 109:10), and also that the righteous would be kept from the necessity for it (Psalm 37 :25). [Manners And Customs of Bible Lands]