Deuteronomy 15

Chap. XV. Ver. 1—23. The laws of the sabbatical year, and of servitude.—The laws of the sabbatic year have been already briefly stated, as also the regulations and which slavery was permitted, and the means by which it was incurred. ((Exodus 21:1), &c.) There was, however, an important distinction between the Hebrew and foreign slaves. The latter were either prisoners relates chiefly, if not entirely, to Hebrew servants, which were situated much like apprentices with us. The means by which this servitude was incurred, were either purchase, or the forfeiture of liberty by debt. A poor man without the means of subsistence, might sell either himself or his family; or, if deeply involved in debt, the creditor might claim their services: but in both cases it was only to the sabbatic, which was every seventh year.

At the end of this, he must go free, with his wife and family; nor must he go empty handed, but be furnished with the means of at least temporary support. “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.” When Israel was brought out of Egypt, the Lord gave them such favour in the eyes of the Egyptians among whom they dwelt, that they came away loaded with presents; and therefore it is commanded, that they should show equal kindness. ((Exodus 12:35-36).) A case, however, is here supposed, which under this mitigated state of slavery, is by no means improbable. It is supposed that some of their Hebrew slaves, who were treated equal to hired servants, might feel themselves so comfortable as to wish to continue in servitude; such a one was to be taken before a magistrate, and by the ceremony of boring his or her ear, either male or female became a servant for ever; that is, perpetually, until the year of jubilee, when every Hebrew servant must be released.

((Leviticus 25:39-41).) In treating of debts in consequence of loan, Moses informs us they also were to be released in the sabbatic year, except only when the nation should rise to that prosperous situation as to have no poor among them, then the sabbatic year is not to be pleaded in bar of payment. But how is this to be reconciled (it may be said) with a following passage, (ver. 11.) which says, “the poor shall never cease out of the land?” This is not difficult; the term poor is relative, and does not always imply distress. This may be illustrated by the state of the Society of Friends, who are commonly said to have ‘no poor,’ because their poorest members are so taken care of by the more wealthy, that they are never seen in rags or wretchedness; though, at the same time, there are never wanting objects of sympathy or generosity.

Thus our Lord himself explains the passage, “‘The

Notes on the verses

See (Jeremiah 16:6). / Ver.5. The hart.—Dr. Shaw considers this as a generic word, including all the species of the deer kind.—The roebuck—(Hebrew, T’sebi) according to Dr. Shaw and others, the gazel, or antelope, receiving its Hebrew name from its loveliness, or beauty.—The fallow deer.—Either the bubalus or buffalo, or a species of red deer.—The wild goat.—(Akko) the goat-deer, a very timorous species; or perhaps the rock-goat.—The ol re rump, or white-tail) a species of antelope; perhaps the addax of the ancients.—The wild ox.—Oryx; a large species of stag—And the chamois.—Some species of goat probably, for the chamois is only to be found in cold countries. For these names, see Dr. Clarke in loc., Calmet by Taylor, and Harris’s Nat.

Hist of the Bible. Several of these names occurring here only, the species remain very doubtful. For the rest of the animals and birds in this chapter, see notes on (Leviticus 11)&c. Ver. 21. Any thing that dieth of itself—The prohibition from eating these was given before, (Leviticus 17:15). but the permission to give or sell it to a stranger or an alien seems extraordinary, since we consider such animals unwholesome, as the subjects of disease. There were, however, among the heathen poor wretches, as already remarked, (on (Leviticus 17:15).) who were glad to eat flesh at any rate; and this permission shows the very contemptuous light in which they were regarded by the Hebrews. Ver. 26. For strong drink.—(Hebrew, sikera) any kind of fermented liquor, whether made from corn or fruits.

(Dr. Clarke.) This was forbidden to the Nazarites altogether, (Numbers 6:3).; to the priests when on duty, (Leviticus 10:9).; and the excess of it, so as to produce intoxication, to all, (Deuteronomy 29:12). but within the bounds of sobriety and moderation, it was allowed, and sometimes prescribed, (Proverbs 31:6). f: y ‘ Ver. 28. Tithe increase.—(As the Levites had no inheritance, the Israelites were not to forget them, but truly tithe their increase. For their support, the Levites had, 1. The tenth of all the productions of the land; 2. Forty-eight cities, each forming a square of 4000 cubits. 3. Two thousand cubits of ground round each city; total of land 53,000 acres. 4. The first-fruits, and certain parts of all the animals killed in the land.—Canaan contained about 11,264,000 acres; therefore the portion possessed by the Levites was rather less than as 1 to 212; for 11,264,000, divided by 53,000 equals only 212.53.

But though this was a very small proportion for a whole tribe that had consented to annihilate its political existence, that it might wait upon the service of God, yet, let it be considered, that what they possessed was the best of land: and while it was a slender remuneration for their services, yet their portion was such as rendered them independent, and kept them comfortable; so that they could wait on God, and labour in his work, without distraction.—Bagster. Chap. XV. Ver. 4. Save when there be no poor.—Margin, “To the end that there be no poor.” So the LXX. Both translations may be harmonized. The release is granted to prevent absolute distress; but it is granted to those only who needed.

It is the privilege of the rich to lend, not to borrow. See ver. 6,7. (Houbigant follows the marginal reading, to which he joins the end of the third verse, considering it as explanatory of the law; as if he had said, ‘Thou shalt not exact the debt that is due from thy brother, but thy hand shall release him, for this reason, that there may be no poor among you through your severity.” He justly contends that the phrase ephes kee, can here only mean, “to the end that.”)—Bagster. Ver. 13. Go away empty.—This is a most humane and merciful addition to the law in (Exodus 21:2, 11); enforced upon the Israelites by the consideration of their Egyptian bondage. As a faithful servant has made no property for himself while honestly serving his master, so now, when he quits his service, he has nothing to begin the world with except what the kindness of his master may bestow upon him as a remuneration for his zeal and fidelity.

Though what was to be bestowed upon servants is not fixed, yet they were to be liberally supplied. ver. 14.—Bagster. Ver. 17. Maid-servant.—Hence it appears that female servants were sometimes purchased for labour, without any purpose of espousing them; and that they were under the same law as the men-servants.—Bagster.