In the biblical context, "strangers" or "foreigners" refer to non-Israelites residing within the land of Israel. The Mosaic Law contains specific instructions regarding the treatment of these individuals, emphasizing love, justice, and compassion.

Divine Command to Love Strangers

The Israelites were commanded to love the stranger, reflecting God's own love and justice. In Deuteronomy 10:18-19 , it is written: "He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. So you also must love the foreigner, since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt." This passage highlights the divine mandate to extend love and care to strangers, rooted in the Israelites' own experience of being foreigners in Egypt.

Equality Before the Law

The law provided for the equal treatment of strangers and native-born Israelites. Leviticus 19:33-34 states: "When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." This command underscores the principle of equality and the requirement to love the stranger as oneself, reinforcing the broader biblical ethic of love and justice.

Inclusion in Religious Observances

Strangers were also included in certain religious observances, signifying their integration into the community of Israel. In Numbers 15:14-16 , the law specifies: "And if a foreigner resides with you or someone else is among you and wants to present an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD, he is to do as you do. The assembly is to have the same statute for both you and the foreigner residing with you; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD." This inclusion reflects the openness of the Israelite community to those who sought to worship the God of Israel.

Protection and Provision

The law also provided for the protection and provision of strangers, ensuring their basic needs were met. In Leviticus 23:22 , the Israelites are instructed: "When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner; I am the LORD your God." This command ensured that the vulnerable, including strangers, had access to food and sustenance.

Judicial Fairness

Judicial fairness was mandated for strangers, as seen in Deuteronomy 1:16 : "At that time I charged your judges: 'Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident.'" This directive ensured that strangers received impartial justice, reflecting the broader biblical principle of fairness and righteousness in legal matters.

The laws respecting strangers in Israel reveal a divine concern for justice, compassion, and love, urging the Israelites to remember their own history and extend kindness to those who lived among them.Leviticus 19:34
But the stranger that dwells with you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 10:19
Love you therefore the stranger: for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Kingdom Given to the Saints at the Resurrection of the Just.
... not expressed by any of the admitted laws of language. ... them, and confessed that they
were strangers and pilgrims ... promises are thus made good to Israel, all who ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the kingdom given to the.htm

Of the Commissioners Hellebichus Commander of the Troops, and ...
... together, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who only ... of the inhabitants of the
city, but of strangers and corrupt ... were brought up in the same laws, they have ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily xvii of the commissioners.htm

Paul in Malta and Rome.
... of Paul were not calculated to induce strangers to court an ... with you: because that
for the hope of Israel I am ... He had not violated the laws of his country, nor ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxix paul in malta.htm

Introductory Note.
... dogs, with which the children of Israel had thought ... indeed that among these pilgrims
and strangers to the ... was accurately acquainted with the Roman laws, and on ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/introductory note.htm

His First Residence in Germany.
... of spirit appeared to exist in the strangers who attended ... want of better information
respecting the laws of the ... May the Shepherd of Israel never leave them nor ...
/.../chapter iv his first residence.htm

All Mankind Guilty; Or, Every Man Knows More than He Practises.
... Like the people of Israel, when expostulated with by the ... no hope: no; for I have
loved strangers, and after ... Being, in his treatise on the Laws." TERTULLIAN (De ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/all mankind guilty or every.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1800, to the End of ...
... half a dozen folks about you, strangers perhaps, and ... ardently affectionate as a mother
in Israel,' few of ... out of local and peculiar usages, laws, customs, and ...
/.../chapter 5 from the close.htm

1 Cor. xiv. 1
... the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the ... [9.] And observe also their laws,
how moderate and ... Again, he entertained strangers, yet did he not here act vain ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxxv 1 cor xiv.htm

Penitence, as Explained in the Sophistical Jargon of the Schoolmen ...
... binding the souls of believers by their laws, whether justly ... 2:Cor.5:20), is not
directed to strangers, but to ... not "for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 4 penitence as explained.htm

The Priesthood of Christ
... University"the Rest of You, Most Worthy Strangers of Every ... needful good, and in the
imposing of laws or the ... Christ and the Lord of his whole Israel, King of ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/oration iv the priesthood of.htm

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