Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 15:1-18
The rights of the poor and vulnerable in Israel 15:1-18The Israelites were not only to care for the Levites (Deuteronomy 14:27; Deuteronomy 14:29) and the aliens, orphans, and widows (Deuteronomy 14:29), but also other individuals in the nation who needed help (Deuteronomy 15:1-18). This concern was to mark them as the people of Yahweh. [Note: See Peter T. Vogt, "Social Justice and the Vision of Deuteronomy," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 51:1 (March 2008):35-44.] read more
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 15:1-11
"It is appropriate to deal with the law of release at this point, since it is best interpreted as an extension of the agrarian principles of the fallow year for the land, rather than a slave release law, linked in some way to the Hebrew slave release laws of Exodus 21:1-7 and Deuteronomy 15:12-18." [Note: Christopher Wright, "What Happened Every Seven Years in Israel?" Evangelical Quarterly 56:3 (July 1984):132.] "At the end of every seven years" is an idiom meaning "during the seventh year."... read more