Clarke's Commentary

Verse Deuteronomy 15:1. At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release — For an explanation of many things in this chapter, see the notes on Exodus 21:0 and Exodus 23:0, and Leviticus 25:0

Verse Deuteronomy 15:4. There shall be no poor — That is, comparatively; see Deuteronomy 15:11.

Verse Deuteronomy 15:8. Thou shalt open thine hand wide — Thy benevolence shall be in proportion to his distress and poverty, and thy ability. Thou shalt have no other rule to regulate thy charity by.

Verse Deuteronomy 15:9. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart] לבבך בליעל lebabecha beliyaal, thy belial heart, that is, thy good-for-nothing or unprofitable heart; Deuteronomy 13:13.

And thine eye be evil — An evil eye signifies a covetous disposition. See the same form of expression used by our Lord in the same sense. Matthew 6:23. If thine eye be evil - If thou be a covetous person. Evil eye is by our Lord opposed to single eye, i. e., a person of a liberal, benevolent mind. Covetousness darkens the soul; liberality and benevolence enlighten it.

And he cry unto the Lord against thee — What a consolation to the poor and the oppressed, that they have a sure friend in God, who will hear their cry and redress their grievances!

Verse Deuteronomy 15:11. For the poor shall never cease out of the land — To this passage our Lord appears to allude Mark 14:7: For ye have the poor with you always. God leaves these in mercy among men to exercise the feelings of compassion, tenderness, mercy, &c. And without occasions afforded to exercise these, man would soon become a Stoic or a brute.

Verse Deuteronomy 15:13. Thou shalt not let him go away empty — Because during the time he served thee, he made no property for himself, having been always honest towards thee; and now when he leaves thee, he has nothing to begin the world with.

Verse Deuteronomy 15:14. Thou shalt furnish him - out of thy flock — Thou shalt give him some cattle to breed with; out of thy floor - some corn for seed and for bread; and out of thy wine press - an adequate provision of wine for present necessity.

Verse Deuteronomy 15:17. Thou shalt take an awl — Exodus 21:6.

Verse Deuteronomy 15:20. Thou shalt eat it - in the place which the Lord shall choose — Thus God in his mercy made their duty and interest go hand in hand. And in every case God acts thus with his creatures; well, therefore, might Satan ask, Doth Job serve God for naught? No! nor does God design that any man should.

Verse Deuteronomy 15:21. If there be any blemish — Leviticus 22:20. God will have both a perfect priest and a perfect offering.