In the context of the Bible, the term "aliens" refers to non-Israelites or foreigners residing among the Israelites. The Hebrew word often translated as "alien" is "ger," which denotes a sojourner or a temporary resident. The treatment and legal obligations of aliens in Israelite society are addressed in various passages throughout the Old Testament, reflecting a balance between inclusion and distinction.

Legal Status and Obligations

Aliens living among the Israelites were subject to certain laws but were also exempt from others. They were expected to adhere to the basic moral and civil laws that governed the community. For instance, Leviticus 24:22 states, "You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the LORD your God." This indicates that aliens were expected to follow the fundamental laws that ensured justice and order within the society.

However, aliens were not bound by all the ceremonial and ritual laws that were specific to the covenant between God and Israel. For example, they were not required to participate in certain religious festivals or rituals that were distinctly tied to Israelite identity and covenantal obligations. Exodus 12:43-49 outlines the regulations for the Passover, stating that no foreigner may eat of it unless they are circumcised and thus fully integrated into the covenant community.

Rights and Protections

The Bible emphasizes the fair treatment and protection of aliens. Leviticus 19:33-34 commands, "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 directive underscores the ethical obligation to treat aliens with kindness and equity, rooted in the Israelites' own historical experience as foreigners in Egypt.

Aliens were also entitled to certain social benefits, such as gleaning rights. Leviticus 23:22 instructs, "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 provision ensured that aliens, along with other vulnerable groups, had access to sustenance.

Religious Participation

While aliens were not required to observe all Israelite religious practices, they were permitted to worship the God of Israel. Numbers 15:14-16 states, "And if a foreigner resides with you or someone else is among you and wants to offer a food offering as a pleasing aroma to the LORD, he is to do as you do. The assembly is to have the same statute for you and for the foreigner residing with you; it is a permanent statute for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD." This passage indicates that aliens could participate in certain religious offerings, provided they adhered to the same standards as the Israelites.

Conclusion

The biblical treatment of aliens reflects a nuanced approach that balances the need for a cohesive community identity with the ethical imperative to treat all individuals with justice and compassion. Aliens were integrated into the social and legal fabric of Israelite society, enjoying certain rights and protections while being exempt from specific covenantal obligations. This framework highlights the broader biblical themes of justice, mercy, and the recognition of shared humanity.Deuteronomy 14:21
You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself: you shall give it to the stranger that is in your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to an alien: for you are an holy people to the LORD your God. You shall not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
Nave's Topical Index

Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
... to flight the armies of the aliens; and it ... human element, and its records be exempt
from historical ... Any points disputable, or partially erroneous, which may be ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/bunsens biblical researches.htm

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