BibleTools
Deuteronomy 15:2
Compare all

Debts Canceled Every Seven Years

1 “At the end of aevery seven years you shall grant a1 release of debts.  
2 And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall1 release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the Lord’s release.  
3 Of a foreigner you may require it; but you shall give up your claim to what is owed by your brother,
4 except when there may be no poor among you; for the Lord will greatly abless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance—  
5 only if you carefully obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today.
6 For the Lord your God will bless you just as He promised you; ayou shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.  

Generosity to the Poor

7 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the1 gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, ayou shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,  
8 but ayou shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.  
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
<< Deuteronomy 15:1   Deuteronomy 15:3 >>


Deuteronomy 15:1-11

The year of release is no doubt identical with the sabbatical year of the earlier legislation (Exodus 23:10 ff, and Leviticus 25:2 ff), the command of the older legislation being here amplified. The release was probably for the year, not total and final, and had reference only to loans lent because of poverty (compare Deuteronomy 15:4, Deuteronomy 15:7). Yet even so the law was found to be too stringent for the avarice of the people, because it was one of those which the rabbis "made of none effect by their traditions."

Deuteronomy 15:2

Because it is called the Lord' s release - Render, because proclamation has been made of the Lord' s release. The verb is impersonal, and implies (compare Deuteronomy 31:10) that "the solemnity of the year of release" has been publicly announced.

Deuteronomy 15:3

The foreigner would not be bound by the restriction of the sabbatical year, and therefore would have no claim to its special remissions and privileges. He could earn his usual income in the seventh as in other years, and therefore is not exonerated from liability to discharge a debt anymore in the one than the others.

Deuteronomy 15:4

There is no inconsistency between this and Deuteronomy 15:11. The meaning seems simply to be, "Thou must release the debt for the year, except when there be no poor person concerned, a contingency which may happen, for the Lord shall greatly bless thee." The general object of these precepts, as also of the year of Jubilee and the laws respecting inheritance, is to prevent the total ruin of a needy person, and his disappearance from the families of Israel by the sale of his patrimony.

Deuteronomy 15:9

literally: "Beware that there be not in thy heart a word which is worthlessness" (compare Deuteronomy 13:13 note).




Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Deuteronomy 15:2:

Deuteronomy 15:1-11
Isaiah 53:7
Jeremiah 17:4
Daniel 11:20

 

<< Deuteronomy 15:1   Deuteronomy 15:3 >>

DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.

Join 137,305+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

Close
E-mail This Page