Baruch Levine (JPS Torah Commentary: Vayikra) points out that the whole of this section, verses 39-46, deal with indenture: "An Israelite indentured to another must not be treated as a slave." So the verb , a Nif'il affix 3ms form of the root , which has a range of meanings from "to sell, receive in marriage" to "to deliver or give into the power of another", should be understood as a legal indenture process. The poor man receives a capital sum for agreeing to be the indentured servant of another Israelite for a certain period of time, that he uses to settle his debts. The contract guarantees him food, clothing, shelter and a better standard of service and living that an owned slave would be entitled to enjoy.

Hirsch: Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888CE), German rabbi, author and educator; staunch opponent of the Reform movement in Germany and one of the fathers of Orthodox Judaism

Nechama Leibowitz: (1905-1997CE), born in Riga, graduate of the University of Berlin, made aliyah in 1931; professor at Tel Aviv University; taught Torah for over 50 years

Yeshua tells the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 to illustrate how this is to be worked out. Although the establishment figures declined to help the man who had been beaten and robbed - wether to avoid ritual impurity, for fear of their own personal security or simply because they didn't - he was helped by a Samaritan traveller. The Samaritans and the Jews did not see eye to eye on a range of issues, as a number of gospel passages make clear, yet out of common decency and compassion, it was a Samaritan who picked up and cared for the beaten and wounded Jewish man; more, he took him to an inn, paid for several days of food and care and underwrote his future costs until well enough to travel for himself. "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbour to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" (Luke 10:36, NASB) Yeshua asked. This is so obvious - that compassion and mercy should call us to cross boundaries of race, colour and even creed - that we will sometimes miss it. Moreover, it is not to be done simply on an evangelistic tool, for that is essentially a selfish motive: helping others so that you can fulfill your own obligation to share the gospel! Instead, we are to extend mercy and compassion because it is the right thing to do, because it is what G-d does, because it is what Yeshua did. That is why Rav Sha'ul writes, "anyone who does not provide for his own people, especially for his family, has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8, CJB) and our text sets this firmly in the heart of the believing community.

Further Study: Romans 12:9-13; Isaiah 58:6-7

Application: Do you see those around you who are impoverished or obviously struggling to make ends meet? Do you have the means to help them - by way of support, counsel or simply fellowship? Here is an opportunity to share G-d's mercy and compassion - without thought or hope of return - because that is what Yeshua would do and wants to do through you.

© Jonathan Allen, 2007