Deuteronomy 24:15

At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

24:14-22 It is not hard to prove that purity, piety, justice, mercy, fair conduct, kindness to the poor and destitute, consideration for them, and generosity of spirit, are pleasing to God, and becoming in his redeemed people. The difficulty is to attend to them in our daily walk and conversation.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Righteousness unto thee - Compare Deuteronomy 6:25 note.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14, 15. Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy—Hired servants in the East are paid at the close of the day; and for a master to defraud the laborer of his hire, or to withhold it wrongfully for a night, might have subjected a poor man with his family to suffering and was therefore an injustice to be avoided (Le 19:13).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

At his day; at the time appointed, weekly or daily.

Neither shall the sun go down upon it, to wit, after the day upon which it is due, and desired or demanded by him; for justice must not be denied or delayed.

Setteth his heart upon it, Heb. lifteth up his soul to it, which notes his great desire and hope of it, and his dependence upon it: see Psalm 24:4 Jeremiah 22:27.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

At his day thou shalt give him his hire,.... At the close of the day, when his work is done, the hire agreed for must be paid him; and, by the same rule, all such that were hired by the week, month, or year, were to have their wages paid them at the day their time was up:

neither shall the sun go down upon it; it was to be paid before sun setting, or at it; see Leviticus 19:13,

for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it; being poor, he cannot wait any longer for the payment of it; his personal and family wants are such as require immediate payment; and besides, he has been eagerly expecting it, and earnestly desiring it, that he may satisfy the craving necessities of himself and family; and therefore it would be a great balk and disappointment to him to have his wages detained:

lest he cry against thee to the Lord; having none to apply unto but him, who is the patron of the poor and needy, not being able to help himself, nor having interest in any to interpose on his behalf; and his cry, and the cry of his hire too, enter into the ears of the Lord of hosts, and is regarded by him, James 5:4,

and it be sin unto thee: be imputed to him, the guilt charged on him, and punishment inflicted for it.

Geneva Study Bible

At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

15. his day] Cp. Job 14:6, Matthew 20:2.

setteth his heart] Lit. lifteth up his desire (nephesh). The Heb. term with its several meanings suggests how his life depends on his wage. Being poor he cannot be indifferent to it.

cry against thee, etc] Cp. Deuteronomy 24:13, Deuteronomy 15:9. And it be sin unto thee, see on Deuteronomy 15:9.

Deuteronomy 24:15

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

They were not to oppress a poor and distressed labourer, by withholding his wages. This command is repeated here from Leviticus 19:13, with special reference to the distress of the poor man. "And to it (his wages) he lifts up his soul:" i.e., he feels a longing for it. "Lifts up his soul:" as in Psalm 24:4; Hosea 4:8; Jeremiah 22:27. On Deuteronomy 24:15, see Deuteronomy 15:9 and James 5:4.