Shalom, Mitspacha!
“You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.”
- Vayikra 19:13
“Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.”
- Michah 2:1-2
The mitzvah against robbery teaches that justice protects the vulnerable and preserves the dignity of the neighbour. Robbery is the violent or deceitful taking of another’s goods, reputation, or freedom. It breaks the covenantal trust YHVH establishes among His people and reveals a heart turned toward greed and power rather than stewardship and service.
Where theft may be secret, robbery parades with force or manipulation. Both wound the community, but robbery also tears at the social fabric by using strength to oppress weakness. Torah’s stern response reminds us that oppression and fraud have moral and communal consequences.
The first command prohibits using force or fraud to acquire what belongs to another. This extends beyond property to include reputation, opportunity, and labour.
The second command demands prompt and fair payment for work done; withholding wages or exploiting workers is robbery in God’s sight.
Application for today: examine your transactions and relationships. Where have power, fear, or greed influenced your decisions? Confess and make restitution where necessary. Advocate for the weak, pay the worker promptly, and refuse any gain obtained by coercion or deceit. Let your life model honest stewardship so that your community flourishes under YHVH’s justice.
YHVH our Elohim, You are the righteous Judge who hates injustice and delights in mercy. Search our hearts and reveal any hidden greed or deceit. Cleanse us from the desire to control, take, or defraud others.
We pray for those who have been robbed — of possessions, peace, or dignity. Restore what was lost and heal their wounds.
We also pray for those who have wronged others, that they may turn in repentance and find mercy through Your Son, Yahusha Ha’Mashiach.
Let our hands be pure and our hearts clean before You. Teach us to walk in honesty and to build communities rooted in trust and compassion.
Baruch YHVH.
May YHVH bless you and keep you.
May YHVH make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May YHVH lift up His countenance upon you and grant you shalom.
Baruch YHVH.
Shalom until tomorrow.