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To: Raycpa
Let me show you Leviticus 19:34 in several passages and lexicons, and then maybe you will catch the correct shade of meaning for these passages.

‘When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. ‘The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Le 19:33-34). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

‘Do not mistreat foreigners living in your country, 34 but treat them just as you treat your own citizens. Love foreigners as you love yourselves, because you were foreigners one time in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. The Everyday Bible : New Century Version. 2005 (Le 19:33-34). Nashville, TN.: Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Now a version which shows a slightly different reading:

And if a stranger dwells temporarily with you in your land, you shall not suppress and mistreat him.
34 But the stranger who 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. Amplified Bible

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34 jYou shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. ESV

sojourner, temporary dweller, new-comer (no inherited rights), cf. Ex 12:19 Lv 24:16 Nu 15:30 Jos 8:33 (opp. homeborn); of Abraham at Hebron Gn 23:4
Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (2000). Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon.

Sojourner is a man who (alone or with his family) leaves village and tribe because of war 2S 43 Is 164, famine Ru 11, epidemic, blood guilt etc. and seeks shelter and residence at another place, where his right of landed property, marriage and taking part in jurisdiction, cult and war has been curtailed,
The Hebrew and Aramaic lexicon of the Old Testament. Volumes 1-4 combined in one electronic edition. (electronic ed.). Leiden; New York: E.J. Brill.

The meaning of the passages is to help the traveler just as if he is a native. However, he is a temporary traveler (sojourner) in the land, and does not acquire all the rights of the native.
61 posted on 03/15/2006 9:26:56 PM PST by GarySpFc (de oppresso liber)
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To: GarySpFc
However, he is a temporary traveler (sojourner) in the land, and does not acquire all the rights of the native.

Two questions.

1) How does this differ with the status of the illegal alien? He doesn't have full rights. Did Mosaic law call for throwing them out? Did long term aliens get treated differently? When God gave his reasoning for treating aliens well, that the Hebrews were once aliens in Egypt they were there longer than "temporary"was God exaggerating and he should have qualified it as being only nice to temporary aliens ?

2) If the rules in Lev are only for "temporary" aliens, what rules are there for the "long term" alien or is this a distinction without a difference? Along similar lines, their are rules for aliens marrying, isn't there-wouldn't that contradict a solely temporary interpretation?

Also, please address the implications of "who is your neighbor/Samaritans etc" of the NT ?

62 posted on 03/16/2006 12:10:59 PM PST by Raycpa
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