Deuteronomy 15
Share
CHAPTER 15
The Year for Canceling Debts (15:1–11)
1–11 In this section Moses gives Israel a law not given before: every seven years all debts between Israelites were to be canceled. This law was designed to prevent the poor from getting poorer and the rich from getting richer. Presumably the year for canceling debts coincided with the sabbath year, also observed every seven years (see Leviticus 25:1–7).
Note that foreigners did not have their debts canceled (verse 3). While this provision of the law seems discriminatory, it was really based on the fact that Israel was a nation set apart; Israelites were children of the Lord (Deuteronomy 14:1) and hence they were all “brothers” and needed to treat each other in an especially loving way. Therefore, richer Israelites were expected to make loans to their poorer brothers and to those who had fallen on hard times. Already there were laws against charging a needy Israelite interest (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35–38); one was not to make a profit from the misfortune of a brother. Now they were to make loans freely, even though the year for canceling debts was near (verse 8).
Jesus understood the spirit of this law when He said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). God’s desire for Israel was that His people might display generosity toward one another; if they did this they would be abundantly blessed. Indeed, if only they would obey Him fully, there would be no poor among them (verses 4–6). That was the ideal. But God knew that because of man’s sin and life’s uncertainties there would always be some who were poor (verse 11). Jesus knew this too; He said: “The poor you will always have with you” (Mark 14:7).
In these verses God, through Moses, is basically giving the Israelites the assurance that whatever generosity they show to others will not be to their loss; God will make it up to them. And that applies equally to us today: to the extent we are generous to others, to that extent God will be generous to us; He will repay our generosity—most commonly in this life, but if not, surely in the next (see Proverbs 11:24–25; 2 Corinthians 9:6–11).
Freeing Servants (15:12–18)
(Exodus 21:1–6)
12–18 See Exodus 21:1–6; Leviticus 25:39–46 and comments.
The Firstborn Animals (15:19–23)
19–23 Here Moses repeats the law concerning the CONSECRATION (or setting apart) of firstborn animals (see Exodus 13:1–2,11–16 and comment). Firstborn animals were not to be put to work or even to be sheared; they were to be given wholly to the Lord and not used for private gain (verse 19). They were to be brought each year to the tabernacle, unless the family lived too far away (see Deuteronomy 14:23–25).
However, if the firstborn animal had any defect (verse 21), it was not to be sacrificed (see Exodus 12:3–7; Leviticus 1:1–2 and comments). A defective animal, however, could be eaten at home (verse 22), as long as the blood was drained out first (see Leviticus 17:10–16 and comment).