silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals” (8:5–6). The last verse refers to those who are enslaved for non-payment of debts. This concept of משפט וצדקה is clearly expressed by Isaiah. After the parable of the vineyard, which ends: “he hoped for justice (משפט); for equity (צדק, lit. “righteousness”), but behold, iniquity, (עצקה, lit. “crying out”) (Isa. 5:7),33 we find an indictment of landowners who enlarge their estates: “Ah, those who add house to house and join field to field, till there is
Page 37