Foreigners played a major role in the life of Israel. They surrounded her, and lived within her borders. In order to fulfil her mission as the bearer of God's law, Israel had to distinguish herself from foreign nations and individuals, especially with regard to their religious beliefs. A clear distinction is made between foreign nations and foreign individuals, who are to be allowed to live freely among Israelites within the land.
The origins of foreign nations
Genesis 9:19 See also Genesis 11:1–9
These three were the sons of Noah, and from them the whole earth was populated.
The foreign nations of Ammon and Moab
The relation of Israel and Edom
Israel's relationship with foreign nations
Israel's captivity in Egypt
Exodus 6:6 See also Amos 1:3, Amos 1:6, Amos 1:9, Amos 1:11, Amos 1:13; Isaiah 10:24–25 God's judgment on Assyria; Isaiah 47:6 the fall of Babylon prophesied; Ezekiel 25:3, Ezekiel 25:8, Ezekiel 25:12, Ezekiel 25:15, Ezekiel 26:2; Nahum 1:14 Nineveh's destruction foretold
Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.
Foreign nations as a threat to Israel
Deuteronomy 7:1–4 See also Genesis 9:25, Genesis 15:16 “Amorites” and “Canaanites” are both terms used to describe generically the races expelled by Israel from the land of promise, a fate brought on themselves by flagrant sin; Leviticus 18:25, Leviticus 20:23; Deuteronomy 18:12
When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations— the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.
The need for Israel to keep separate from foreign nations
Leviticus 20:26 See also Numbers 23:9; Deuteronomy 7:4; Joshua 23:7; Judges 2:2; 1 Kings 11:1–2, 1 Kings 16:31; Ezra 4:3, Ezra 6:21, Ezra 9:12, Ezra 10:11; Nehemiah 10:30, Nehemiah 13:3 Foreign religious beliefs and practices were seen as a constant threat to faith in the LORD. The command that Israel keep apart from foreign nations partly reflects a concern that Israel might adopt religious beliefs which compromise her commitment to the LORD.
You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.
Foreign nations are described as uncircumcised
Isaiah 52:1 Circumcision was a sign of being within God's covenant. But some foreigners were also circumcised (Jeremiah 9:25–26). See also Genesis 34:14; Exodus 12:48; Judges 14:3, Judges 15:18; 1 Samuel 14:6, 1 Samuel 17:26; 2 Samuel 1:20; Ezekiel 28:10, Ezekiel 32:26
Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.
Israel's relation with foreigners within her boundaries
Foreigners are to be treated graciously
Leviticus 19:34 See also Leviticus 19:10, Leviticus 23:22; Deuteronomy 10:19, Deuteronomy 14:29, Deuteronomy 24:19–21, Deuteronomy 26:12–13
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.
Foreigners must not be oppressed
Leviticus 19:33 See also Exodus 22:21, Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 24:14, Deuteronomy 24:17, Deuteronomy 27:19; Psalm 146:9; Jeremiah 7:6, Jeremiah 22:3; Zechariah 7:10
When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him.
Foreigners have a positive role to play in Israel
For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again He will choose Israel and settle them in their own land. The foreigner will join them and unite with the house of Jacob.
The rights of foreigners within Israel
Foreigners are to share in Sabbath-rest
See also Exodus 20:10 parallel Deuteronomy 5:14; Exodus 23:12
Foreigners are to receive a fair trial
Foreigners are to participate in festivals and ceremonies
Deuteronomy 16:11, Deuteronomy 16:14, Deuteronomy 26:11, Deuteronomy 29:10–11, Deuteronomy 31:12; 2 Chronicles 30:25
Ultimately inheritance rights were envisaged for foreigners
The obligations of foreigners are similar to those of native Israelites
Numbers 9:14 See also Exodus 12:19, Exodus 12:48–49; Leviticus 16:29, Leviticus 17:8, Leviticus 17:12–13, Leviticus 17:15, Leviticus 18:26, Leviticus 20:2, Leviticus 22:18, Leviticus 24:16 The penalties for blasphemy apply to Israelite and foreigner alike; Leviticus 24:22; Numbers 15:14–16 The rules on the presentation of offerings are to be the same for both the Israelites and the foreigner; Numbers 19:10, Numbers 35:15; Ezekiel 14:7
If a foreigner dwelling among you wants to observe the Passover to the LORD, he is to do so according to the Passover statute and its ordinances. You are to apply the same statute to both the foreigner and the native of the land.’”
Occasional distinctions made for foreigners
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.