Texts in Conversation
Deuteronomy 10 highlights care for the orphan, widow, and foreigner as a priority of divine justice, reflecting a biblical concern for the vulnerable. Proverbs 31 uses this language to praise the ideal woman, who opens her hand to the poor and needy.
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Deuteronomy 10:18
Hebrew Bible
17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God who is unbiased and takes no bribe, 18 who justly treats the orphan and widow, and who loves resident foreigners, giving them food and clothing. 19 So you must love the resident foreigner because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Date: 6th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
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Proverbs 31:20
Hebrew Bible
18 She perceived that her merchandise was good. Her lamp would not go out in the night. 19 She extended her hands to the spool, and her hands grasped the spindle. 20 She opened her hand to the poor, and extended her hands to the needy. 21 She would not fear for her household in winter, because all her household were clothed with scarlet, 22 because she had made coverings for herself; and because her clothing was fine linen and purple.
Date: 6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The Exodus is seen as the ultimate act of divine justice in the Hebrew Bible, because it is an act of God that overthrows the totalitarian rule of the Pharaoh (in respect of the Israelites) and frees them from slavery. For this reason, ‘the entire history of Israel under God is subordinated to one purpose—righteousness expressed in justice’ ... This is reflected in Psalm 146:7–9, a song of praise ... Justice is envisaged as a mighty, surging river, like the River Jordan in full flood. It illustrates that justice is not a static state (like the scales of Justicia) but an intervening power: it strikes and changes, restores and heals. It is dynamic, rushing onwards, bringing life to a parched land. Justice has transformative potential. Against this background, the treatment of the least favoured in society becomes the fundamental criterion for achieving justice. The triumvirate of ‘the alien, the fatherless and the widow’ are the object of God’s special concern (Deuteronomy 10:18). Accordingly, they are to be the people’s focus also ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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