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Poor: The general kindly spirit of the law toward the poor is sufficiently shown by such passages as De 15:7 for the reason that (ver. 11) "the poor shall never cease out of the land." Among the special enactments in their favor the following must be mentioned:
1. The right of gleaning. Le 19:9,10; De 24:19,21
2. From the produce of the land in sabbatical years the poor and the stranger were to have their portion. Ex 23:11; Le 25:6
3. Re-entry upon land in the jubilee year, with the limitation as to town homes. Le 25:25-30
4. Prohibition of usury and of retention of pledges. Ex 22:25-27; Le 25:3,5,37 etc.
5. Permanent bondage forbidden, and manumission of Hebrew bondmen or bondwomen enjoined in the sabbatical and jubilee years. Le 25:39-42,47-54; De 15:12-15
6. Portions from the tithes to be shared by the poor after the Levites. De 14:28; 26:12,13
7. The poor to partake in entertainments at the feasts of Weeks and Tabernacles. De 16:11,14 see Nehe 8:10
8. Daily payment of wages. Le 19:13 Principles similar to those laid down by Moses are inculcated in the New Testament, as Lu 3:11; 14:13; Ac 6:1; Ga 2:10; Jas 2:15
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