As the Israelites were about to enter the promised land, God gave them a list of requirements through Moses.
These may seem scattered in Deuteronomy chapter 23, but each is crucial for understanding God’s concern for people and their relationships with Him and one another.
God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and never sent them back to their Egyptian masters. Therefore, it makes sense that he would want his people to offer the same freedom to those escaping slavery from other nations who came to the Promised Land.
“You shall not return to their owners slaves who have escaped to you from their owners.
They shall reside with you, in your midst, in any place they choose in any one of your towns, wherever they please; you shall not oppress them” (Deuteronomy 23:15-16).
The Catholic Church introduced to me their conviction about “God’s preferential love for the poor.” This phrase inspires me because it reflects what we see in the Bible from start to finish.
Here are a few examples showing how God cares for the most vulnerable and calls us to do the same.
“You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall not abuse any widow or orphan” (Exodus 22:21-22).
The prophets pick up this theme. Jeremiah restates God’s standard that calls for helping the most vulnerable individuals in society.
Thus says the Lord: “Act with justice and righteousness and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place” (Jeremiah 22:3).
Ezekiel condemns the disregard of God’s command to care for the poor who deserve our preferential treatment.
The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery; they have oppressed the poor and needy and have extorted from the alien without justice (Ezekiel 22:9).
Holy People and Holy Worship
One danger the Israelites faced, and unfortunately failed to avoid, was adopting the customs of the surrounding nations in their worship of God.
“None of the daughters of Israel shall serve in an illicit shrine; none of the sons of Israel shall serve in an illicit shrine.
You shall not bring the fee of a prostitute or the wages of a dog into the house of the Lord your God in payment for any vow, for both of these are abhorrent to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 23:17-18).
They were meant to be holy, set apart for God’s purposes, and separate from the world. Despite God’s declaration, they failed miserably at this task.
Therefore your daughters prostitute themselves,
and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves
nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery,
for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes
and sacrifice with female attendants;
thus a people without understanding comes to ruin. (Hosea 4:13b-14)
The last phrase of Hosea’s prophecy is very striking. People without understanding come to ruin. This was true in his time and is still true today.
When we worship substitutes for God, we can expect to be ruined by our own failed devotion to Him.
Concerning Loans
This is the third passage in the first five books of the Old Testament that talks about charging interest. The first two focus on the poor and needy. This one includes all Israelites.
“You shall not charge interest on loans to another Israelite, interest on money, interest on provisions, interest on anything that is lent.
On loans to a foreigner you may charge interest, but on loans to another Israelite you may not charge interest, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all your undertakings in the land that you are about to enter and possess” (Deuteronomy 23:19-20).
They were told not to be unfair with fellow Israelites who might struggle to pay off a loan with interest.
However, they could charge interest to foreigners, which seems more like business than care for a fellow Israelite.
The key point is that Yahweh is the source of blessings for his people, and financial gain should not dictate how they treat each other.
In today’s YouTube video, Rudy Ross shares some interesting thoughts on how Jewish people have survived persecution over the years. He also discusses how making loans during those tough times was beneficial to them.
I think you’ll enjoy his insights.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 