Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
You must not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
God is telling His people to treat foreigners kindly because they remember what it was like to be foreigners themselves in Egypt.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Exodus, God is giving the Israelites a set of laws to guide their new nation after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, emphasizing moral and social justice in their community. This specific command serves as a reminder of the Israelites' own experiences as oppressed strangers in Egypt, encouraging them to treat foreigners with fairness and compassion as part of their covenant identity. These laws were designed to set the Israelites apart as a people reflecting God's holiness and concern for the vulnerable.
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