ישיעה ג:יג-טו
נִצָּב לָרִיב ה' וְעֹמֵד לָדִין עַמִּים: ה' בְּמִשְׁפָּט יָבוֹא עִם זִקְנֵי עַמּוֹ וְשָׂרָיו וְאַתֶּם בִּעַרְתֶּם הַכֶּרֶם גְּזֵלַת הֶעָנִי בְּבָתֵּיכֶם: מלכם מַה לָּכֶם תְּדַכְּאוּ עַמִּי וּפְנֵי עֲנִיִּים תִּטְחָנוּ נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי ה' צְבָאוֹת:
The Lord stands up to plead a cause, He rises to champion peoples. God will bring this charge against the elders and princes of his people: "It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing My people, by grinding the face of the poor?" says God of hosts.
[JPS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. God reminds us many times throughout Jewish texts to defend the poor. Why does God bring these charges against the elders and princes specifically?
2. Why does God charge the elders and princes with failing the poor if the text informs us that God is the one who pleads a cause and champions peoples?
3. What can we learn from this text about how we should conduct ourselves as a society?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)