Exodus 22:21 - Exposition

Law against oppression of foreigners . It may be doubted whether such a law as this was ever made in any other country. Foreigners are generally looked upon as "fair game," whom the natives of a country may ridicule and annoy at their pleasure. Native politeness gives them an exceptional position in France; but elsewhere it is the general rule to "vex" them. The Mosaic legislation protested strongly against this practice ( Exodus 23:9 ; Le 19:33), and even required the Israelites to "love the stranger who dwelt with them as themselves " (Le 19:34). For ye were strangers . Compare Le 19:34, and Deuteronomy 10:19 . In Exodus 23:9 the addition is made—"For ye know the heart of a stranger"—ye know; i.e; the feelings which strangers have when they are vexed and oppressed—ye know this by your own sad experience, and should therefore have a tenderness for strangers.