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place which He shall choose to place His name there； the tithe of thy corn；
of thy wine； and of thine oil； and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy
flocks； that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always。〃 Deuteronomy
14：23； 29； 16：11…14。 This tithe； or its equivalent in money； they were for
two years to bring to the place where the sanctuary was established。 After
presenting a thank offering to God； and a specified portion to the priest；
the offerers were to use the remainder for a religious feast； in which the
Levite； the stranger； the fatherless； and the widow should participate。 Thus
provision was made for the thank offerings and feasts at the yearly
festivals； and the people were drawn to the society of the priests and
Levites； that they might receive instruction and encouragement in the
service of God。
Every third year； however； this second tithe was to be used at home； in
entertaining the Levite and the poor； as Moses said； 〃That they may eat
within thy gates； and be filled。〃 Deuteronomy 26：12。 This tithe would
provide a fund for the uses of charity and hospitality。
And further provision was made for the poor。 There is nothing； after their
recognition of the claims of God； that more distinguishes the laws given by
Moses than the liberal； tender； and hospitable spirit enjoined toward the
poor。 Although God had promised greatly to bless His people； it was not His
design that poverty should be wholly unknown among them。 He declared that
the poor should never cease out of the land。 There would ever be those among
His people who would call into exercise
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their sympathy； tenderness； and benevolence。 Then； as now； persons were
subject to misfortune； sickness； and loss of property； yet so long as they
followed the instruction given by God； there were no beggars among them；
neither any who suffered for food。
The law of God gave the poor a right to a certain portion of the produce of
the soil。 When hungry； a man was at liberty to go to his neighbor's field or
orchard or vineyard； and eat of the grain or fruit to satisfy his hunger。 It
was in accordance with this permission that the disciples of Jesus plucked
and ate of the standing grain as they passed through a field upon the
Sabbath day。
All the gleanings of harvest field； orchard； and vineyard； belonged to the
poor。 〃When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field；〃 said Moses； 〃and
hast forgot a sheaf in the field； thou shalt not go again to fetch it。 。 。 。
When thou beatest thine olive tree； thou shalt not go over the boughs again。
。 。 。 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard； thou shalt not glean
it afterward： it shall be for the stranger； for the fatherless； and for the
widow。 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of
Egypt。〃 Deuteronomy 24：19…22； Leviticus 19：9； 10。
Every seventh year special provision was made for the poor。 The sabbatical
year； as it was called； began at the end of the harvest。 At the seedtime；
which followed the ingathering； the people were not to sow； they should not
dress the vineyard in the spring； and they must expect neither harvest nor
vintage。 Of that which the land produced spontaneously they might eat while
fresh； but they were not to lay up any portion of it in their storehouses。
The yield of this year was to be free for the stranger； the fatherless； and
the widow； and even for the creatures of the field。 Exodus 23：10； 11；
Leviticus 25：5。
But if the land ordinarily produced only enough to supply the wants of the
people； how were they to subsist during the year when no crops were
gathered？ For this the promise of God made ample provision。 〃I will command
My blessing upon you in the sixth year；〃 He said； 〃and it shall bring forth
fruit for three years。 And ye shall sow the eighth year； and eat yet of old
fruit until the ninth year； until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old
store。〃 Leviticus 25：21；22。
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The observance of the sabbatical year was to be a benefit to both the land
and the people。 The soil； lying untilled for one season； would afterward
produce more plentifully。 The people were released from the pressing labors
of the field； and while there were various branches of work that could be
followed during this time； all enjoyed greater leisure； which afforded
opportunity for the restoration of their physical powers for the exertions
of the following years。 They had more time for meditation and prayer； for
acquainting themselves with the teachings and requirements of the Lord； and
for the instruction of their households。
In the sabbatical year the Hebrew slaves were to be set at liberty； and they
were not to be sent away portionless。 The Lord's direction was： 〃When thou
sendest him out free from thee； thou shalt not let him go away empty。 Thou
shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock； and out of thy floor； and out
of thy winepress： of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed thee thou
shalt give unto him。〃 Deuteronomy 15：13； 14。
The hire of a laborer was to be promptly paid： 〃Thou shalt not oppress a
hired servant that is poor and needy； whether he be of thy brethren； or of
thy strangers that are in thy land： 。 。 。 at his day thou shalt give him his
hire； neither shall the sun go down upon it； for he is poor； and setteth his
heart upon it。〃 Deuteronomy 24：14； 15。
Special directions were also given concerning the treatment of fugitives
from service： 〃Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is
escaped from his master unto thee。 He shall dwell with thee； even among you；
in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates； where it liketh him
best： thou shalt not oppress him。〃 Deuteronomy 23：15； 16。
To the poor； the seventh year was a year of release from debt。 The Hebrews
were enjoined at all times to assist their needy brethren by lending them
money without interest。 To take usury from a poor man was expressly
forbidden： 〃If thy brother be waxen poor； and fallen in decay with thee；
then thou shalt relieve him： yea； though he be a stranger； or a sojourner；
that he may live with thee。 Take thou no usury of him； or increase： but fear
thy God； that thy brother may live with thee。 Thou shalt not give him thy
money upon usury； nor lend him thy victuals for increase。〃 Leviticus
25：35…37。 If the debt remained unpaid
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until the year of release； the principal itself could not be recovered。 The
people were expressly warned against withholding from their brethren needed
assistance on account of this： 〃If there be among you a poor man of one of
thy brethren； 。 。 。 thou shalt not harden thine heart； nor shut thine hand
from thy poor brother。 。 。 。 Beware that there be not a thought in thy
wicked heart； saying； The seventh year； the year of release； is at hand； and
thine eye be evil against thy poor brother； and thou givest him nought； and
he cry unto the Lord against thee； and it be sin unto thee。〃 〃The poor shall
never cease out of the land； therefore I command thee； saying； Thou shalt
open thine hand wid