That the poor existed among the Hebrews we have abundant evidence (
Exodus 23:11 ;
Deuteronomy 15:11 ), but there is no mention of beggars properly so called in the Old Testament. The poor were provided for by the law of Moses (
Leviticus 19:10 ;
Deuteronomy 12:12 ;
14:29 ). It is predicted of the seed of the wicked that they shall be beggars (
Psalms 37:25 ;
109:10 ).
In the New Testament we find not seldom mention made of beggars ( Mark 10:46 ; Luke 16:20 Luke 16:21 ; Acts 3:2 ), yet there is no mention of such a class as vagrant beggars, so numerous in the East. "Beggarly," in Galatians 4:9 , means worthless.
These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.