Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Deuteronomy 24:14/רמב"ן על דברים כ״ד:י״ד
אלֹא תַעֲשֹׁק שָׂכִיר עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן, יְדַבֵּר הַכָּתוּב בַּהֹוֶה, שֶׁהָעֲנִיִּים וְהָאֶבְיוֹנִים וְהַגֵּרִים מַשְׂכִּירִים עַצְמָם. וְכֵן אִם כֶּסֶף תַּלְוֶה אֶת עַמִּי אֶת הֶעָנִי עִמָּךְ (שמות כב כד), וְכֵן לַגֵּר לַיָּתוֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָה יִהְיֶה (דברים כ"ד:י"ט), שֶׁהֵם הָעֲנִיִּים בָּרֹב. וְכֵן בְּהַרְבֵּה מְקוֹמוֹת יְדַבֵּר בַּהֹוֶה, כְּמוֹ לֹא תַחְסֹם שׁוֹר בְּדִישׁוֹ (דברים כ"ה:ד'), לֹא תַחֲרֹשׁ בְּשׁוֹר וּבַחֲמֹר יַחְדָּו (דברים כ"ב:י'). וּבְסִפְרֵי (תצא קמה) אָמְרוּ, אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן, מְמַהֵר אֲנִי לִפָּרַע עַל יְדֵי עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן יוֹתֵר מִכָּל אָדָם. וְדָרְשׁוּ מִגֵּרְךָ, זֶה גֵּר צֶדֶק, לַעֲבֹר עָלָיו בִּשְׁנֵי לָאוִין:
1THOU SHALT NOT WRONG A HIRED SERVANT THAT IS POOR AND NEEDY. Scripture is speaking of the common occurrence, for the poor, the needy, and strangers hire themselves out [for wages, but the law applies to all workers]. Similarly, If thou lend money to any of My people that is poor by thee357 and so also, it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow,358 because they are generally poor. Likewise in many places Scripture speaks of common occurrence, such as, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn359, 25:4. [which applies equally to all domestic and wild animals as well as birds]; Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together360 [which also applies to any two different species]. And in the Sifre the Rabbis have said:361 278. “If so, why is it stated here poor and needy [when the law applies to all workers]? It is because I hasten to punish when the poor and needy are involved more than any other people.” They also interpreted: “Whether he be of thy strangers [in Verse 14 before us] — this refers to a righteous proselyte, so that he who wrongs him [in his hire] transgresses two prohibitions” [since he is also of thy brethren].