When Your Brother Becomes Poor and the One Who Robs the Lowly

"When your brother becomes poor and sells some of his property" (Leviticus 25:25). This is what Scripture says: "Do not rob the lowly because he is lowly... for the Lord will plead their cause..." (Proverbs 22:22-23). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: Do not rob the lowly because he is lowly, for I made him lowly, and whoever robs him or mocks him reproaches his Maker — it is as though he mocks Me, as it is said, "He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker" (Proverbs 17:5). What is the meaning of "Do not rob the lowly"? Is there a person who robs the lowly? Of what does he rob him, seeing that he is lowly? Rather, if you were accustomed to providing for him, and you reconsidered and said, "How long shall I keep supplying him?" and you hold back from giving to him — know that you are robbing him. Hence, "Do not rob the lowly." Rather, provide for him, for he has no other place. "And do not crush the poor in the gate" (Proverbs 22:22) — so that I do not, on your account, shut up the heavens, for they too are called a gate, as it is said, "And this is the gate of heaven" (Genesis 28:17). "For the Lord will plead their cause" (Proverbs 22:23) — I plead your case, for I made him poor and you rich; I am turning My mechanism over, and I will make him rich and you poor, as it is said, "The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all" (Proverbs 22:2). Why "for the Lord will plead their cause"? Because you are depriving his soul, for if you do not provide for him — therefore, "He will rob of life those who rob them" (Proverbs 22:23).