Food May Be Picked From A Neighbour's Property To Be Eaten By Hand (Deuteronomy 23:24).
Further provision was made here for the poor, but it also applied to any who were feeling hungry and looked for the means at hand to satisfy it, especially when travelling. For the land was Yahweh's and He may order as He would. He was the Master and Israel His slaves (Deuteronomy 32:36; Leviticus 25:55; Isaiah 1:3). Furthermore this goes along with Deuteronomy 24:20-22 where they must leave gleanings because they had escaped a cruel foreign master in Egypt. Thus the master/slave relationship is very much in mind here.
‘ When you come into your neighbour's vineyard, then you may eat of grapes your fill at your own pleasure, but you shall not put any in your vessel.'
The principle was simple. If they were in a vineyard belonging to an Israelite (a ‘neighbour') they could eat as many grapes as they wished. However, they were not to take any away in a vessel or any other similar thing. The idea was not that everyone should raid the vineyards when they were hungry. The point was that no restriction was put on someone passing through as long as they only ate what they then required.
‘ When you come into your neighbour's standing grain, then you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not move a sickle to your neighbour's standing grain.'
The same applied to standing grain (not harvested grain). They could pluck ears with their hand and eat their fill. But they must not cut any down with a sharp tool. Thus none need go hungry, but this was not to be an excuse for theft or taking wrong advantage of a neighbour's generosity. Compare Mark 2:23-28 and parallels.
Both these examples are based on Yahweh's ownership of the land, and position with regard to Israel. He has the right to make these demands because the land and all it produces is in the end His. He is the master and owns the land and those who ‘rent' the land are His servants so that He may do as He will. (Leviticus 25:55; Deuteronomy 32:36. This is precisely also the relationship in which Pharaoh stood to the Egyptians, compare Genesis 47:20). And yet they too will benefit for it is Yahweh who makes the land fruitful.
There is a lesson here for us all on neighbourly sharing and being generous, especially to have-nots, as we recognise in a similar way that what we have also fully belongs to Him, and we should use it as he chooses.