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from the medical profession and that took care of the problem. When the focus was on poverty, the Jewish tradition also turned to the individual.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY AND POVERTY

Helping the poor was a mitzvah incumbent on every. It was the task of every individual to help the poor. We need to see how the Bible thought it could motivate people in this direction. It began with the individual conscience. Help for the poor is a constant theme through which the biblical texts prompt the individual. We see it in the specific demand in Leviticus not to harden our hearts against our poor brother(Ex. 23:6; Deut. 15:7). Such statements led to prophetic reminders(Is. 3:14; 10:2; 41:17; Jer. 22:16, which linked impending doom of the land to social injustice(Hos. 4.1; 5.10f;-Amos 2:6 ff; 511 f,; 8:4 f; Micah 2:1; 6:8 ff; Zeph. 1:9 f; Zech. 11:4f, Mal. 3:8f; Is. 1:23f; 3:14; 5:8; 58:2 ff: Jer. 5:25fF: 6:7 ff.; 7: 6ff.; 34:13ff; Ez. 18:5 ff; 22:12 f, 29), a major factor second only to idolatry. This is balanced by a vision of social justice(Is. 11:4ff; 41.17ff There are sharp statements in Proverbs and Psalms(12:6 14:4; 35:10ff.; 37:9ft; 82:3f; 94:3 ff; 113:7 ff).

All these statements were directed at the individual and emphasized personal religious obligation. Conscience was to be educated and stirred and when that did not succeed, it was linked to the threat of Divine punishment. God would hear their cries (Ps. 113:7; Prov 31.9; Job 5:15); however it was a human duty to hear them also and to help. We should note that the poor were not blamed for their plight; it was not laziness or personal faults that led to their plight. Help to the poor was provided, but never enough to solve the problem.