Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
You must not mistreat foreigners or outsiders, because you know what it feels like to be a stranger, you were strangers when you lived in Egypt.
God is telling His people not to mistreat foreigners because they should remember what it was like when they were foreigners themselves in Egypt.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Exodus, God is giving the Law to the Israelites after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, as part of establishing a just society for His people. This verse specifically draws on the Israelites' own history of being oppressed as strangers in Egypt, reminding them of the hardships they endured. It serves as a moral command within the broader context of the Mosaic Law, emphasizing empathy and protection for vulnerable foreigners in their midst.
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