Hebrew Bible Study
Hebrew Bible Study

Commentary for Exodus 23:9

וְגֵ֖ר לֹ֣א תִלְחָ֑ץ וְאַתֶּ֗ם יְדַעְתֶּם֙ אֶת־נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַגֵּ֔ר כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

And a stranger shalt thou not oppress; for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Rashi on Exodus

וגר לא תלחץ AND THOU SHALT NOT OPPRESS THE STRANGER — In numerous passages (36 in number) does the Torah offer a caution about the ill-treatment of the stranger, because his original character is bad (Bava Metzia 59b).
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Or HaChaim on Exodus

ואתם ידעתם את נפש הגר, "and you are familiar with the way a stranger feels." Compare what I have written on 22,20 "you must not disadvantage the stranger." The present verse is proof of the truth of what I have written there.
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Siftei Chakhamim

Because סורו is bad. Some explain סורו as שְׂאוֹר (leaven), referring to his evil inclination — which is strong and bad, thus the stranger is easy to tempt [away from the path of the Torah]. Others explain [ סורו as סָר (stray). This means that] once he strays from the path [of the Torah], he cannot be [easily] persuaded to return.
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Rav Hirsch on Torah

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Chizkuni

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Rashi on Exodus

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Rav Hirsch on Torah

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