Sources of caring for the poor in the Old Testament

Sources of caring for the poor in the Old Testament In ancient times, poverty was not an exceptional phenomenon. Diseases, wars, the collapse of the internal market and the international trade, high tax burdens or agricul- tural disasters have contributed to the ruin of not only families, but also villages, cities and even entire nations. The teachings and laws regarding the treatment of the poor are found in all parts of the Old Testament: the Pentateuch, the historical and prophetic books, and the wisdom literature. The legislation of the ancient Near East offers some parallels to the Old Testament law. Biblical authors in various stories and legal regulations express their position in the area of caring for the defenseless and the conviction that man should be a generous servant and keeper of material goods. The article discusses the terms defining various groups of the poor in biblical Hebrew and Greek texts and presents the main indications on social justice toward these groups contained in the biblical legislation and narratives