Deuteronomy 15:1-18

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

Deuteronomy 15:1. 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). If, however, obedient to Yahweh, Israel would not need to borrow (Deuteronomy 15:4).

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

Deuteronomy 15:7. 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) implies among many peoples jealousy (see Matthew 20:15).

Deuteronomy 15:12. See Exodus 21:2 * (JE), the older, and Leviticus 25:39 (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.