poor Summary and Overview

The Mosaic legislation regarding the poor is specially important. (1.) They had the right of gleaning the fields (Lev. 19:9, 10; Deut. 24:19,21). (2.) In the sabbatical year they were to have their share of the produce of the fields and the vineyards (Ex. 23:11; Lev. 25:6). (3.) In the year of jubilee they recovered their property (Lev. 25:25-30). (4.) Usury was forbidden, and the pledged raiment was to be returned before the sun went down (Ex. 22:25-27; Deut. 24:10-13). The rich were to be generous to the poor (Deut. 15:7-11). (5.) In the sabbatical and jubilee years the bond-servant was to go free (Deut. 15:12-15; Lev. 25:39-42, 47-54). (6.) Certain portions from the tithes were assigned to the poor (Deut. 14:28, 29; 26:12, 13). (7.) They shared in the feasts (Deut. 16:11, 14; Neh. 8:10). (8.) Wages were to be paid at the close of each day (Lev. 19:13). In the New Testament (Luke 3:11; 14:13; Acts 6:1; Gal. 2:10; James 2:15, 16) we have similar injunctions given with reference to the poor. Begging was not common under the Old Testament, while it was so in the New Testament times (Luke 16:20, 21, etc.). But begging in the case of those who are able to work is forbidden, and all such are enjoined to "work with their own hands" as a Christian duty (1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:7-13; Eph. 4:28). This word is used figuratively in Matt. 5:3; Luke 6:20; 2 Cor. 8:9; Rev. 3:17.

The general kindly spirit of the law toward the poor is sufficiently shown by such passages as #De 15:7| for the reason that (ver. 11) "the poor shall never cease out of the land." Among the special enactments in their favor the following must be mentioned: 1. The right of gleaning. #Le 19:9,10; De 24:19,21| 2. From the produce of the land in sabbatical years the poor and the stranger were to have their portion. #Ex 23:11; Le 25:6| 3. Re-entry upon land in the jubilee year, with the limitation as to town homes. #Le 25:25-30| 4. Prohibition of usury and of retention of pledges. #Ex 22:25-27; Le 25:3,5,37| etc. 5. Permanent bondage forbidden, and manumission of Hebrew bondmen or bondwomen enjoined in the sabbatical and jubilee years. #Le 25:39-42,47-54; De 15:12-15| 6. Portions from the tithes to be shared by the poor after the Levites. #De 14:28; 26:12,13| 7. The poor to partake in entertainments at the feasts of Weeks and Tabernacles. #De 16:11,14| see Nehe 8:10 8. Daily payment of wages. #Le 19:13| Principles similar to those laid down by Moses are inculcated in the New Testament, as #Lu 3:11; 14:13; Ac 6:1; Ga 2:10; Jas 2:15|

POOR . By ordaining that land could be sold only for a term of years, but should return to its original owner at the jubilee, Lev 25:23-28, the Mosaic Law found an effective check to pauperism. But also in other ways it took great care of the poor. All kinds of offering and sacrifice were accommodated to their condition. Lev 5:7, Rev 1:11; Neh 12:8. The gleanings of fields and vineyards and the harvest of the seventh year and part of the third tithe belonged to them. Lev 19:10; Lev 25:25-41. Judges were charged to do them justice, but not unjustly to favor them for their poverty. Ex 23:6; Lev 19:15; Ps 82:4. God claimed to be the special protector of them. Prov 14:31. In the N.T. the word "poor" is used figuratively to denote those who are humble of heart. Matt 5:3; but also literally, as when Jesus said "The poor have the gospel preached to them," Matt 11:5, and touchingly declared, "Ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always." Matt 26:11.

The considerate provisions of the law for the poor (based on principles already recognized by the patriarchs: Job 20:19; Job 24:3-4; Job 24:9-10; especially Job 29:11-16; Job 31:17) were: (1) The right of gleaning; the corners of the field were not to be reaped, nor all the grapes to be gathered, nor the olive trees to be beaten a second time; the stranger, fatherless, and widow might gather the leavings; the forgotten sheaf was to be left for them (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19; Deuteronomy 24:21; Rth 2:2). (2) They were to have their share of the produce in sabbatical years (Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 25:6). (3) They recovered their land, but not town houses, in the Jubilee year (Leviticus 25:25-30). (4) Usury, i.e. interest on loans to an Israelite, was forbidden; the pledged raiment was to be returned before sundown (Exodus 22:25-27; Deuteronomy 24:10-13); generous lending, even at the approach of Jubilee release, is enjoined: (Deuteronomy 15:7-11) "thou shalt open thy hand wide to THY poor"; God designs that we should appropriate them as our own, whereas men say "the poor." (5) Lasting bondservice was forbidden, and manumission, with a liberal present, enjoined in the sabbatical and Jubilee years (Deuteronomy 15:12-15; Leviticus 25:39-42; Leviticus 25:47-54); the children were not enslaved; an Israelite might redeem an Israelite who was in bondage to a rich foreign settler. (6) Portions from the tithes belonged to the poor after the Levites (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; Deuteronomy 26:12-13). (7) The poor shared in the feasts at the festivals of weeks and tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:11; Deuteronomy 16:14; Nehemiah 8:10). (8) Wages must be paid at the day's end (Leviticus 19:13); yet partiality in judgment must not be shown to the poor (Exodus 23:3; Leviticus 19:15). In the New Testament, Christ lays down the same love to the poor (Luke 3:11; Luke 14:13; Acts 6:1; Galatians 2:10; James 2:15; Romans 15:26), the motive being "Christ, who was rich, for our sake became poor that we through His poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). Begging was common in New Testament times, not under Old Testament (Luke 16:20-21; Luke 18:35; Mark 10:46; John 9:8; Acts 3:2.) Mendicancy in the ease of the able bodied is discouraged, and honest labour for one's living is encouraged by precept and example (1 Thessalonians 4:11; Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12). The prophets especially vindicate the claims of the poor: compare Ezekiel 18:12; Ezekiel 18:16-17; Ezekiel 22:29; Jeremiah 22:13; Jeremiah 22:16; Jeremiah 5:28; Isaiah 10:2; Amos 2:7, "pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor," i.e., thirst after prostrating the poor by oppression, so as to lay their heads in the dust; or less simply (Pusey) "grudge to the poor debtor the dust which as a mourner he strewed on his head" (2 Samuel 1:2; Job 2:12). In Deuteronomy 15:4 the creditor must not exact a debt in the year of release, "save when there shall be no poor among you," but as Deuteronomy 15:11 says "the poor shalt never cease out of the land," translated "no poor with thee," i.e. release the debt for the year except when no poor person is concerned, which may happen, "for the Lord shall greatly bless thee": you may call in a loan on the year of release, when the borrower is not poor. Others regard the promise, Deuteronomy 15:11, conditional, Israel's disobedience frustrating its fulfillment. Less costly sacrifices might be substituted by the poor (Leviticus 5:7; Leviticus 5:11).