Deuteronomy 15 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~1406 BC, part of the law code given in the fortieth year after the exodus
Location
the plains of Moab, legislating for the farming economy of Canaan
Audience
Israelite landholders, lenders and slave owners in the settled land
Situation
Every seventh year debts are to be released, lending to the poor is commanded even when the release year is near, Hebrew servants are to be freed in the seventh year with generous provision, and firstborn male livestock are set apart.
Key Background
Debt slavery was the normal outcome of a failed harvest across the ancient Near East, and other kingdoms occasionally declared one off debt cancellations when a new king took the throne, but making the release regular and predictable was unusual. The instruction not to refuse a loan as the seventh year approaches anticipates the obvious way to game the system, and shows the law expected lenders to look for loopholes. Sending a freed servant away with livestock, grain and wine was meant to prevent the immediate return to debt that an empty handed release would guarantee, and the option of a servant choosing to stay, marked by piercing the ear at the doorpost, gave a legal form to a permanent arrangement.
At the end of every you must all
Here's how it works: every creditor must what they've lent to their neighbor. They must not pressure their neighbor or fellow Israelite to pay it back, because of has been announced.
You can collect from a but whatever your fellow Israelite owes you, you must let go of it.
There really shouldn't be anyone poor among you, because Yahweh is going to for you in the land he's giving you to own —
but only if you to Yahweh your God and make sure to follow every one of these commands I'm giving you today.
When Yahweh your God for you as he promised, you'll lend to many nations but won't need to borrow from any. You'll have many nations, but none of them will have you.
If anyone among you is poor — in any of your towns in the land Yahweh your God is giving you — don't be or toward them.
Instead, be with them. Lend them whatever they need.
Watch out for this creeping into your mind: 'The seventh year — the year of debt cancellation — is almost here,' and then you look at your poor neighbor with resentment and refuse to lend them anything. They'll cry out to Yahweh against you, and you'll be for it.
Give to them generously, and it when you do, because Yahweh your God will for you in everything you do and everything you put your hand to.
There will always be poor people in the land. That's why I'm commanding you: be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites — toward anyone among you who is or in
If a fellow Hebrew — man or woman — to you, they can serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, you must them
And when you set them free, don't send them away empty-handed.
Be generous with them from your flock, your and your winepress. Share with them out of everything Yahweh your God has given you.
Remember that you were once in and Yahweh your God set you free. That's why I'm giving you this command today.
But if your servant says to you, 'I don't want to leave you,' because they love you and your family and have a good life with you—
then take an and push it through their earlobe into the door. From then on, they're your servant for life. Do the same for your female servants.
Don't think of it as a hardship when you set them free, because they've served you for six years at the of a And Yahweh your God will provide for you in everything you do.
Every male born in herds and flocks you must for Don't put ox to work, and don't shear sheep.
Each year, eat them in — you and your family — at the
But if the animal has any — if it's lame or blind or has anything seriously wrong with it — don't offer it to Yahweh your God.
You can eat it in your own town — anyone can, whether they're in a state of or not — just like you'd eat a gazelle or a deer.
Just don't eat the Pour it out on the ground like water.