How should strangers be treated?
Commands protecting resident foreigners coexist with lethal exclusion from sacred roles and ruthless treatment of enemies, but the groups do not always describe the same people or actions.
- Textual conflict
- Weak tension
- The alleged conflict needs substantial assumptions, such as treating an omission as a denial or figurative language as literal.
- Importance
- Foundational
- A central claim about origins, salvation, divine justice, or religious authority.
Protected resident foreigners are not securely matched with unauthorized sacred personnel or conquered enemies.
An editorial assessment of the quoted passages. Importance describes the stakes; it does not increase certainty. Reading order weighs both.
Resident strangers must receive love justice and protection
But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.