"For Instruction shall come forth from Zion, The word of the L-rd from Jerusalem." -- Isaiah 2:3

Jerusalem

Torah Verses

Excerpt Sources

Complete List of Source Books

Navigate the Excerpts Browser

Before accessing the excerpts, please review a word about copyright.

Are you more of an "I'll dive right in and figure it out" person, or a "Show Me How This Thing Works" person?  If the former, go right ahead and try the excerpts browers on the right side of this page and/or scroll through the excerpts that start below the following information -- although we still suggest reading the information first.  If you are the latter, click here for a video demonstrating the Excerpts Browser. Either way (or both), enjoy! 

This page is recommended for searches limited to specific Torah books, weekly portions (parshiot), chapters, verses, and/or sources (authors). For keyword and/or for exact phrase (including verse and source) searches of the entire excerpts database, we recommend using the Search Engine page.  For broadest results, use both pages and alternative search strategies. 

This page displays the full text of all or "sorted" (filtered) excerpts in the database.  Use the "Torah Verses" and/or "Excerpt Sources" browsers at the right to locate the excerpts associated with your desired Torah book, portion, chapter. verse, or author.  Or, simply scroll through the excerpts, using the "boxes" at the bottom of any page displaying excerpts to "jump" ahead or back. 

Also note that immediately below the chapter, verse, and keyword of each excerpt is a highlighted line comprised of multiple links.  Clicking on any of the links will limit (filter) the excerpts display to the selected category.  

Transcription of excerpts is incomplete.  For current status, please see "Transcribed Sources" on the Search Engine page.  To assist with completion, please see "Contributors" page. 

123

LEVITICUS | 19:13 wages — LEV371 It was in the Greek way of life, not in ou...

LEV371 It was in the Greek way of life, not in ours, that a profound distinction was made between citizen and stranger. The Torah warns us to have one law for all. It is Demosthenes who bears testimony that a stranger was denied the rights of citizenship and that he had no right to protection by the local deities nor any share in the sacrifices offered to them. Since the stranger had no part in the religion of the Greeks, he had no claims to the benefits of their legislation. If he entered a sacred enclosure which the priest had set aside for the assembly, he was punished with death. In brief, the laws of the city did not exist for him. When found guilty of a crime and not enjoying legal protection, one can imagine the trial he had. He was treated as a slave and punished forthwith. These harsh rules were not a result, as in the case of Judaism, of defensive measures against persons disintegrating and corroding the empire of the Greeks, but of a cruel and barbaric strain in the "make up" of the Greeks and Romans. By way of contrast, examine the Jewish attitude towards the ger. From the Bible, it would appear that two types of such strangers are referred to: one was the ger toshav, the member of another nation who came to live in Palestine. The other was the ger tsedek, the member of another religion who sought acceptance "under the wings of the Shechinah" in his wish to embrace Judaism. The first type was the one who accepted the seven Noahidean precepts and had foresworn his idols and had become a sincere believer in monotheism. As a reward of his trust, he was entitled to civic and legally quality; he was not to be oppressed; interest was not to be charged him for any loan, nor could his wages be kept overnight [this verse]. He was to be given every opportunity for his economic welfare. This partial proselyte, who was admitted only when Israel dwelt in its own land, was respected as an honest seeker after truth. Apart from certain ritual disabilities, not having accepted Judaism in its entirety, he enjoyed equal rights in Jewish courts of law.

Share

Print
Source KeyLEHRMAN
Verse19:13
Keyword(s)wages
Source Page(s)216-8

Comment

Collapse Expand Comments (0)

You are replaying to

Your comment was added, but it must be approved first.

Please enter your name
Please enter your email adressPlease enter valid email adress
Please enter a comment
Please solve Captcha.
Add Comment
Back To Top