John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. Save when there shall be no poor among you , etc.] Then such a law could not take place, there would be no debts to be released; for this was never designed to screen rich persons from the payment of their just debts, or whoever were in a capacity of so doing, only such as were really poor, and unable to pay; and it supposes that this might sometimes be the case, that there were none poor in Israel, or needed the benefit of such a law; and, according to the Targum of Jonathan, it is suggested there would be none, if they were observant of the commands of God: and some take it for a promise, rendering the words “nevertheless” f163 , notwithstanding such a law, there shall be no poor among you ; but then it must be understood conditionally: others interpret this as the end to be answered by this law, “to the end there may be no poor among you”; by observing this law, all debts being released once in seven years, it would prevent persons falling into distress and poverty, to such a degree as to be in want, and become beggars; and Julian the emperor observes, that none of the Jews begged f165 , which he attributes to the care that was taken of their poor: for the Lord shall greatly bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it ; which is either a reason why there would be no poor, should they observe the commandments of the Lord; or a reason why they should release the debts of the poor because they were so greatly blessed with a fruitful land, which brought them such an increase, as enabled them to free their poor debtors, when in circumstances unable to pay them.
Ver. 5 Only if thou carefully hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God , etc.] In his word, and by his prophets; this being the case, there would be no more poor among them, or however they would be so blessed of God, that they would be capable of releasing the debts of the poor, without hurting themselves and their families: to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day ; a phrase often used to put them in mind of the commands of God, and the necessity of keeping them, their temporal happiness depending thereon.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - This year of release typified the grace of the gospel, in which i proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord; and by which we obtain the release of our debts, that is, the pardon of our sins. The law i spiritual, and lays restraints upon the thoughts of the heart. We mistake, if we think thoughts are free from God's knowledge and check That is a wicked heart indeed, which raises evil thoughts from the goo law of God, as theirs did, who, because God had obliged them to the charity of forgiving, denied the charity of giving. Those who woul keep from the act of sin, must keep out of their minds the very though of sin. It is a dreadful thing to have the cry of the poor justl against us. Grudge not a kindness to thy brother; distrust not the providence of God. What thou doest, do freely, for God loves a cheerfu giver, 2Co 9:7.
Original Hebrew אפס657 כי3588 לא3808 יהיה1961 בך אביון34 כי3588 ברך1288 יברכך1288 יהוה3068 בארץ776 אשׁר834 יהוה3068 אלהיך430 נתן5414 לך נחלה5159 לרשׁתה׃3423
