In the ancient Israelite community, the treatment and inclusion of "strangers" or "foreigners" (Hebrew: "gerim") were subjects of significant legal and moral consideration. The Mosaic Law provided specific instructions regarding the conduct and rights of these non-Israelites living among the Israelites. One of the key aspects of this legal framework was the observance of the Sabbath, a day of rest instituted by God.

The Sabbath, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening, was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, commemorating God's rest after creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and Israel's deliverance from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15). The command to keep the Sabbath holy was not only for the Israelites but extended to all within their gates, including strangers.

The commandment regarding the Sabbath is found in the Decalogue, where it is stated: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates" (Exodus 20:8-10). This inclusion of the "foreigner within your gates" underscores the comprehensive nature of the Sabbath rest, extending its sanctity and rest to all members of the community, regardless of their ethnic or national origin.

The reiteration of this command in Deuteronomy 5:14 further emphasizes the inclusive nature of the Sabbath: "But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do" . This passage highlights the humanitarian aspect of the Sabbath, ensuring rest for all, including servants and foreigners, reflecting God's justice and compassion.

The inclusion of strangers in the Sabbath rest was a profound statement of equality and divine grace. It demonstrated that the blessings of God's covenant and the rhythm of work and rest were not limited to ethnic Israelites but were available to all who lived among them. This provision also served as a reminder of Israel's own history as strangers in Egypt, fostering empathy and justice in their treatment of foreigners (Exodus 23:9).

In summary, the laws respecting strangers in Israel, particularly concerning the Sabbath, reveal a divine mandate for inclusivity and compassion. By extending the Sabbath rest to foreigners, the Israelites were called to reflect God's character and uphold the sanctity of His commandments, ensuring that all within their community could partake in the blessings of rest and worship.Exodus 20:10
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 23:12
Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest: that your ox and your ass may rest, and the son of your handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 5:14
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your ox, nor your ass, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates; that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Thou Shalt in any Wise Rebuke Thy Neighbor, and not Suffer Sin ...
... It would be counted rebellion by the laws of the land ... It was addressed to all the
people of Israel, and through them ... 2. It is asked, Should I reprove strangers? ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/thou shalt in any wise.htm

Exposition of the Moral Law.
... were polluted, violated, not kept, not hallowed; as if ... and commandedst them precepts,
statutes, and laws, by the ... Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 exposition of the.htm

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica and Berea.
... the unsolicited offices of love to strangers; to impart to ... but acknowledged and
worshipped the God of Israel. ... but also for conscience' sake." The laws would be ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xix paul and silas.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1820 to the Beginning ...
... and to those diseases to which they were heretofore strangers. ... to coerce the people
by civil laws," &c., &c ... the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and bringing ...
/.../chapter 6 from the close.htm

Another Wonderful Record of 25.
... I am with you always,' would desert them among strangers. ... and tyrannical woman, whose
laws were as ... me to pray thus unconditionally respecting temporal concerns ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/another wonderful record of 25 00.htm

The Abrogation of the Saybrook Platform
... Israel Holly's "An Appeal to the Impartial, or the Censured ... All strangers coming
into the state were allowed, a ... by dropping it out of the revised laws of 1784. ...
/.../chapter xi the abrogation of.htm

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... writes that at Athens out of all the laws of [4776 ... And hence it is a reproach against
Israel: [4805] "Ye ... sinners, I am to infer His wishes respecting ourselves. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm

Christ a Complete Saviour:
... sometimes it saith, we are saved, as respecting our being ... When Moses prayed for the
people of Israel, thus he ... that God loves not, may be utter strangers as to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christ a complete saviour .htm

Period iii. The Critical Period: AD 140 to AD 200
... who are among the Geli consort with strangers; nor do ... all this, as they write, then
the laws of the ... Respecting this God, he makes those allusions, when writing ...
/.../a source book for ancient church history/period iii the critical period .htm

Footnotes
... at Edinburgh, in March 1681 (Laws Memorialis, p ... this Life the preceding particulars
respecting the learned ... Gataker's "God's Eye on his Israel","preface, Lond ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/footnotes.htm

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