Kehillah in Thessalonika II 3:10

10 For even when we were with you, this we used to direct you: that if anyone will not be a po’el (worker), neither let him be an ochel (eater) [Gn 3:19].

Kehillah in Thessalonika II 3:10 Meaning and Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:10

For even when we were with you
At Thessalonica in person, and first preached the Gospel to them,

we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat;
the Ethiopic version reads in the singular number, "when I was with you, I commanded you"; using the above words, which were a sort of a proverb with the Jews, and is frequently used by them, (lyka al yad) , or (oygn al yel) , "that if a man would not work, he should not eat" {q}. And again ^F18,

``he that labours on the evening of the sabbath (or on weekdays), he shall eat on the sabbath day; and he who does not labour on the evening of the sabbath, from whence shall he eat (or what right and authority has he to eat) on the sabbath day?''

Not he that could not work through weakness, bodily diseases, or old age, the necessities of such are to be distributed to, and they are to be taken care of, and provided with the necessaries of life by the officers of the church; but those that can work, and will not, ought to starve, for any assistance that should be given them by the members of the church, or the officers of it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 14. fol. 13. 1. Echa Rabbati, fol. 48. 4. & Midrash Koholet, fol. 65. 4.
F18 T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 3. 1.

Kehillah in Thessalonika II 3:10 In-Context

8 Nor did we eat lechem (food) from anyone gratis, but in labor and exertion lailah v’yomam (night and day) we were working for the tachlis (purpose) of not weighing down and burdening any one of you;

9 Not because we do not have the zchus (right), but in order that we impart ourselves as a mofet (role model) to you that you might imitate us.

10 For even when we were with you, this we used to direct you: that if anyone will not be a po’el (worker), neither let him be an ochel (eater) [Gn 3:19].

11 For we hear that some among you are leading the life of a batlan (loafer), not being busy with a parnasah, but being busybodies with hitarevut (meddlesomeness).

12 Now such persons we are directing and exhort in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua Adoneinu to work with quietness that they may eat their own lechem.