Poor

The general kindly spirit of the law toward the poor is sufficiently shown by such passages as ( 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. ( Leviticus 19:9 Leviticus 19:10 ; deuteronomy 24:19 deuteronomy 24:21 )
2. From the produce of the land in sabbatical years the poor and the stranger were to have their portion. ( Exodus 23:11 ; Leviticus 25:6 )
3. Re-entry upon land in the jubilee year, with the limitation as to town homes. ( Leviticus 25:25-30 )
4. Prohibition of usury and of retention of pledges. ( Exodus 22:25-27 ; Leviticus 25:3 Leviticus 25:5 Leviticus 25:37 ) etc.
5. Permanent bondage forbidden, and manumission of Hebrew bondmen or bondwomen enjoined in the sabbatical and jubilee years. ( Leviticus 25:39-42 Leviticus 25:47-54 ; 15:12-15 )
6. Portions from the tithes to be shared by the poor after the Levites. ( 14:28 ; deuteronomy 26:12 deuteronomy 26:13 )
7. The poor to partake in entertainments at the feasts of Weeks and Tabernacles. ( deuteronomy 16:11 deuteronomy 16:14 ) see Nehe 8:10
8. Daily payment of wages. ( Leviticus 19:13 ) Principles similar to those laid down by Moses are inculcated in the New Testament, as ( Luke 3:11 ; 14:13 ; Acts 6:1 ; Galatians 2:10 ; James 2:15 )