Deuteronomy 15

Deuteronomy 15:1

J. Treatment of Debtors and Slaves (Chap. 15)15:1-3 At the end of every seven years, all debts among the children of Israel were to be canceled. The seventh year probably coincided with the sabbatic year. The Jews were not required to cancel debts owed to them by foreigners; this law applied only to debts incurred between Jews. Matthew Henry comments: Every seventh year was a year of release, in which the ground rested from being tilled and servants were discharged from their services; and, among other acts of grace, this was one that those who had borrowed money, and had not been able to pay it before, should this year be released from it; and though, if they were able, they were afterwards bound in conscience to repay it, yet thenceforth the creditor should never recover it by law. Seven is the number of fullness or completeness in Scripture. In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son and through Him proclaimed remission of sinsa “year of release” not only for the Jews (v. 3) but for all men. 15:4-6 Verse 4 seems to conflict with verse 11. Verse 4 suggests a time when there would be no poor people in the land, whereas verse 11 says that there will always be poor people. Bullinger’s note is helpful on this. He suggests that verse 4 means “that there be no poor among you.” In other words, they should release their brethren in debt every seven years so that there would be no people in continual poverty. The creditor would not suffer because God would richly bless him. The thought in verse 11 is that there will always be poor people, partly as punishment and partly to teach others compassion in sharing. 15:7-11 The fact that all debts were canceled in the seventh year should not cause a person to refuse to lend money to a poor Israelite as the year of release drew near. To refuse is the base or wicked thought of verse 9. In this connection, the Jewish people have been deservedly well known for caring for their own throughout history. Paul says the same thing in 2Co_9:7 that Moses says in verse 10: “God loves a cheerful giver.” This verse is not only a command but a promise, for God is no man’s debtor. “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself” (Pro_11:25). 15:12-15 A Hebrew slave was also to be released during the seventh year (vv. 12-18). But he was not to be sent away without first providing for him liberally. God provided abundantly for His people when He brought them out of slavery in Egypt (Exo_12:35-36), and for this reason a freed slave should not . . . go out empty-handed. The Lord’s desire is for His people to follow His example or, to rephrase the golden rule, “Do unto your brother as the Lord has done unto you.” 15:16-18 On the other hand, the slave could refuse freedom and choose to become “a perpetual love servant.” He indicated this by having his ear pierced with an awl . . . to the door of his master’s house. A bondservant was worth twice as much as a hired servant. 15:19-23 Beginning with verse 19 and continuing through 16:17, we have regulations about certain functions which were to be carried out in the place where Jehovah had placed His name:

1. The setting apart of the firstborn animals (15:19-23).
2. The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Deu_16:18).
3. The Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost (Deu_16:9-12).
4. The Feast of Tabernacles (Deu_16:13-17). The firstborn of clean animals were to be offered to the LORD, and the people were allowed to eat their share but not the blood. The animals had to be without spot or defectnothing but the best for God.