In the context of the Bible, "aliens" refers to foreigners or sojourners—those who are not native Israelites but live among them. The Scriptures provide various insights into the religious privileges and responsibilities afforded to these individuals within the covenant community of Israel.

Inclusion in Worship and Community Life

The Old Testament law makes provisions for aliens to participate in the religious life of Israel. In Exodus 12:48-49 , it is stated: "If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the Passover to the LORD, all the males in his household must be circumcised; then he may take part like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you." This passage indicates that aliens could partake in the Passover, a central religious observance, provided they adhered to the covenant sign of circumcision, thus integrating them into the spiritual life of Israel.

Equal Treatment Under the Law

The Mosaic Law emphasizes equal treatment for aliens and native-born Israelites. Leviticus 24:22 declares, "You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the LORD your God." This principle of equality under the law ensured that aliens were not discriminated against and could enjoy the same legal protections and obligations as Israelites.

Participation in Sacrifices and Offerings

Aliens were also permitted to bring offerings to the LORD. 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 exactly as you do. The assembly is to have the same statute for both you and the foreigner residing with you; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD." This inclusion underscores the openness of the covenant community to those who were not ethnically Israelite but who desired to worship the God of Israel.

Sabbath Observance

The Sabbath, a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, was also extended to aliens. In Exodus 20:10 , the commandment for the Sabbath includes, "But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God; on it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates." This provision allowed aliens to rest and participate in the rhythm of life ordained by God for His people.

Access to Justice and Compassion

The Bible repeatedly calls for compassion and justice towards aliens. Deuteronomy 10:18-19 highlights God's care for foreigners: "He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. So you also must love the foreigner, since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt." This commandment reflects the broader biblical ethic of love and justice, extending God's covenantal care to all who dwell within the community.

Prophetic Vision of Inclusion

The prophetic literature anticipates a time when foreigners will be fully integrated into the worship of God. Isaiah 56:6-7 envisions this inclusion: "And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants, all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant—I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations."

Throughout the Scriptures, the religious privileges of aliens reflect God's inclusive plan for His people, inviting all who seek Him to participate in His covenant blessings.Exodus 12:48,49
And when a stranger shall sojourn with you, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
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Numbers 9:14
And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover to the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: you shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.
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Numbers 15:14,15
And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet smell to the LORD; as you do, so he shall do.
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Copies of Imperial Laws.
... may wish to follow their own religious observances; it ... to those men whose souls are
aliens to this ... from schismatic bodies, and granting it privileges denied to ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter v copies of imperial laws.htm

The King 'Blessing' his People
... turned to flight armies of aliens.' One name alone is ... The deepest desire of a truly
religious soul is ... of feeling, and hugged their special privileges without a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the king blessing his people.htm

Covenanting a Privilege of Believers.
... must be viewed as spiritual privileges, are represented ... "Ye were without Christ,
being aliens from the ... sometimes entered into the religious exercises performed ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter x covenanting a privilege.htm

The Conversion of Cornelius.
... designs of mercy to those who were "aliens from the ... obstacle to the success of his
religious services, since ... to a full participation of the privileges of the ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xiii the conversion of.htm

Christian Baptism.
... of His kingdom, entitled to its privileges and guardian ... church, and to treat them
as aliens from the ... of parental stewardship and of the religious ministry of ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xi christian baptism.htm

Faith and Life
... must be born again." If a man's religious life be ... The privileges of faith are, that
we have given to ... Once aliens, but now fellow-citizens with the saints and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/faith and life.htm

Covenanting According to the Purposes of God.
... is cited to lead men to acts of religious homage ... but all of them do not enjoy the
privileges, and do ... at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter viii covenanting according to.htm

The Gospel Supper
... may benefit their souls, and make them religious indeed ... them to partake of the glorious
privileges of the ... were rejected by the proud Pharisees, as aliens to the ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the gospel supper.htm

Period I: the Imperial State Church of the Undivided Empire, or ...
... schismatics be not only without the privileges but bound by ... Arius and Euzoius to
our most religious and pious ... exist the holy Catholic Church accounts as aliens. ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period i the imperial state.htm

Nature of Covenanting.
... Many go the whole round of religious services, and yet ... by no means so abundant as
the privileges enjoyed by ... they who are without Christ, are aliens from the ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter i nature of covenanting.htm

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