Deuteronomy 15:1-18 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

Three laws in the interest of the poor: the Sabbatical year, or year of release (p. 102, Exodus 21:2-11 *, Leviticus 25:39-55 *).

Deuteronomy 15:1-6. Every seventh year (probably the same year was observed throughout the country) a creditor's right to distrain for debt was suspended (not, as some say, permanently cancelled). Foreigners, however (not sojourners, see Deuteronomy 1:16 *) were deprived of this privilege (Deuteronomy 15:1-3). If, however, obedient to Yahweh, Israel would not need to borrow (Deuteronomy 15:4-6).

Deuteronomy 15:1. release: lit. a letting drop.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11. The proximity of the year of release must not be allowed to check the flow of ordinary charity.

Deuteronomy 15:9. The evil eye (Deuteronomy 28:54-56) implies among many peoples jealousy (see Matthew 20:15).

Deuteronomy 15:12-18. See Exodus 21:2-6 * (JE), the older, and Leviticus 25:39-46 (H), the later law, also p. 110. D goes beyond JE by including woman (Deuteronomy 15:12). H, however, allows foreigners (not sojourners) only to be slaves to Hebrews. CH, though it shows some concern for widows and the oppressed (§§ 171, 177) is yet on the whole a code of justice rather than one of pity for the needy; it makes a striking difference in the treatment of men and women (§ 193) and rich and poor (§§ 14, 196, 202). D shows great concern for the sojourner (Deuteronomy 1:16 *), the poor and the slave (Deuteronomy 23:15 f.), and recognises the claims of even dumb animals (Deuteronomy 22:6 f., Deuteronomy 25:4); the Babylonian code does none of those things.

Deuteronomy 15:17. For this rite (here a domestic one) see Exodus 21:6 *, where it is a religious act. The change is necessitated by the Deuteronomic law of one sanctuary. The servant could not travel to Jerusalem in all such cases. [This is the view taken on p. 128, but possibly Exodus 21:6 contemplates taking the slave, not to the local sanctuary but to the threshold deities of the master's house (Exodus 12:22 *). In that case the regulation is the same as here; but the Deuteronomist naturally drops the too heathenish reference to the Elohim. A. S. P.]

Deuteronomy 15:18. the double, etc.: i.e. the master would have had to pay double what the slave had cost to a labourer hired in the usual way to do the same quantity of work.

Related Commentaries of Deuteronomy 15:1

Deuteronomy 15:1-18

1 At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.

2 And this is the manner of the release: Every creditora that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release.

3 Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;

4 Saveb when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it:

5 Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day.

6 For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.

7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

9 Beware that there be not a thoughtc in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

12 And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.

13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:

14 Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.

15 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.

16 And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;

17 Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.

18 It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.