Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17; Numbers 28:26-31
LA JOLLA, California — This Shabbat we divert from the usual sequence in the Torah to read special passages related to Shavuot.
Deuteronomy 14:22-29 mandates each year 10% of crop yield and the firstlings of the flocks toward a sacrifice meal at God’s designated site. Every third year, the above yield is to be left within one’s settlement, for the Levite, stranger, orphan, and widow. Deuteronomy 15 mandates remission of debts every seventh year, prohibiting demand of payment from fellow Israelites but not from foreigners. The passage states there should be no needy among Israelites, but if there is a needy person, Israelites shall lend him what he needs. The text adds “…there will never cease to be needy ones in your land..” It goes on to say that should one have an Israelite indentured servant, he shall be set free after six years, generously furnished. If he wishes to stay with you, puncture and pin his ear lobe to a door, to remain your servant in perpetuity. The chapter goes on to specify that all male firstlings of the flock be kept unworked for a year, to then be eaten in sacrifice at the place of God’s choosing. Such animals must be without defect. Deuteronomy 16: 1-17 states the three festivals (Passover, Shavuoth, and Succoth) be observed via pilgrimage to God’s chosen place. Numbers 28:26-31 specifies the observance of Shavuot, enumerating sacrifices to be offered.
I have chosen two passages from these readings, for comparison with ancient pagan practices, from what I found on the internet.
I. Deuteronomy 14:22-15:3 “You shall set aside every year a tenth part…of…the yield from the field … and … consume … and … firstlings of … your … flocks … where He will choose … Every third year… the … full tithe … (for) the Levite … stranger …f atherless, and the widow … Every seventh year you shall practice remission of debts …he shall not dun his … kinsman, for the remission …”
Regarding charity:
Hammurabi, King of Babylon (1792-1750 BCE,) though typically just in his declarations, made no mention of charity to the poor in his Code. He did however reveal some degree of relief via debt alleviation. For example, if a debtor experienced crop failure, payment was deferred and no interest could be charged for that year. Also, if one fails to meet a claim for debt, and then sells himself, his wife, his son, and daughter or give them away to forced labor, they shall work for three years, and in the fourth year they shall be set free. [1]
Babylonian king Ammitsaduka in a decree (1646 BCE), declared the write-off of debts of individuals (Akkadians and Amorites) in Babylon, and return of sold property to former owners. Over the centuries, this allowed a low level of property stratification, preventing hereditary estates of large landowners. [2] [3]
In Greco-Roman culture, the well-to-do weren’t expected to help the poor. The Greek and Latin verbs for being beneficent never have the poor as their object. The Greek word ‘philanthropos’ means toward own’s own family and guests, not toward the poor. Furthermore, the pervasive view was that a donor should be reimbursed, preferably with a gift greater than the the donor himself had given. The giving meanwhile conferred honor and status. Cicero wrote that ‘most people are generous in their gifts not so much by natural inclination as by the lure of honor.’
Greco-Roman religion was not of help to the poor. There was no Zeus for the poor. It was the rich who were seen as the favorites of the divine world, their wealth being visible proof of that favor. The common belief was that the poor were morally inferior to the rich. Their poverty was seen as their own fault. Accordingly, there was no organized charity in ancient Greece or Rome. Giving alms to the poor was considered a waste of resources.
The distributions of corn to the population by city-states or emperors in times of need was not ‘charity’ because the corn was given to all citizens in equal measure. [4]
There is an interesting story of Emperor Julian, apostate nephew of Constantine, who came to power 361-363 CE. He tried to restore paganism in the empire, but came upon the obstacle of Christian charity. He wrote: ‘It is disgraceful, when no Jew ever has to beg, and the impious Galilaeans (Christians) support not only their own poor but ours as well, all men see that our people lack aid from us…’ Thereupon he sent several thousand bushels of grain and pints of wine to be distributed by his priests at public expense. His reign ended after two years, and Christianity was restored to the empire. [5]
Regarding dunning of debtors:
The Persian emperor Cyrus (c.600–530 BCE) is remembered as humane in many ways. He released the exiled captives of the predecessor Babylon empire, which included Judahites. He had a strong work ethic, social graces, and granted dignities to vassals. He stated, “Whenever you can, act as a liberator. Freedom, dignity, wealth—these three together constitute the greatest happiness of humanity. If you bequeath all three to your people, their love for you will never die.”
Regarding debts, he held them to be ‘the worst thing to a lie,’ but I could find no direct statement from him regarding relief to debtors. [6]
II. Deuteronomy 15:12-17 : “If a fellow Hebrew.. is sold to you, he/she shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall set him free … not …empty-handed … should he say … ‘I do not want to leave you …’ you shall take an awl and put it through his ear into the door … he shall become your slave in perpetuity…”
In the ancient Middle East, there is considerable evidence of mutilation of prisoners and slaves, a practice which goes on to this day. Practices included cropping of the ear, branding as with cattle*, shaving, and lashings to result in flogging scars. [7]
In Rome, there were other maltreatments. Slaves might be chained as porters to doors. Old and infirm slaves were left exposed to perish on an island in the Tiber River.
A specific outrage from Greece involved Helots, from Laconia, captured c.1000 BCE by Spartans, and enslaved. When they feared Helots to multiply too rapidly, Spartans sent out young soldiers to assassinate them. Thus, they did away with 500,000 Helots. [8]
*
NOTES
*notably by Sicilians
[1] gopher://gopher.vt.edu:10010/10/33 (Law code of Hammurabi, Rev. Claude Hermann Walter Johns, M.A. Litt.D. Original text source: Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopedia Brittanica, 1920-1911
[2] Arkhipov, I.S. (Архипов, И.С.), 2017. “Babylonian ‘Decrees on Justice’ in the age of the First Dynasty [Старовавилонские «Указы О Справедливости»],” Working Papers 061710, https://ideas.repec.org/p/rnp/wpaper/061710.html Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
[3] The JPS Torah Commentaray Deuteronomy,Jeffrey H. Tigay,,1996, The Jewish Publication Society, p. 146
[4] Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity, Pieter van der Horst, 2014
[5 How pagans views Christian Charity, Acton Institute, Rev. Ben Johnson, 01/02/2018
[6] Beacon Lights of History, John Lord, LLD and George Spencer Hulbert, 10/03/2015, Forgotten Books
[7] Harsh Justice, James Q. Whitman
[8] The Mistakes of Ingersoll, Thomas McGrady
*
Irv Jacobs is a retired medical doctor who delights in Torah analysis. He often delivers a drosh at Congregation Beth El in La Jolla, and at his chavurah.