The short answer is NO. Although Israel was commanded to love the foreigner, it did not function as an open-borders society. It was a defined covenant nation with territorial boundaries, land inheritance, and legal structure (Joshua 13–21; Deuteronomy 23:3–8).
4 Critical Differences Between Foreigners in Ancient Israel and Illegal Immigrants in the West Today
1. Israel Welcomed and Protected the Foreigner But Did Not Burdened Taxpayers
Israel was commanded to love the foreigner (ger) as themselves (Leviticus 19:34). The foreigner living among them was protected under the same law as the native-born—“one law” applied to both (Exodus 12:49; Leviticus 24:22; Numbers 15:15–16). This meant equal legal protection within Israel.
Two Classes of Foreigners
- The gēr — resident foreigner: Long‑term resident living among Israel, protected under the law and required to follow Israel’s commands with equal penalties as natives.
- The nokhrî/zar — outsider or temporary foreigner: A non‑resident visitor such as a traveler or merchant, treated with basic hospitality but not integrated into the covenant community or bound to its full obligations.
How Ancient Israel Provided Help
In ancient Israel, foreigners could glean leftover crops (Leviticus 19:9–10; Deuteronomy 24:19–21). They had access to food but gathered it themselves. It was basic, work-based support—not a welfare system.
There were NO free housing programs, government healthcare, or entitlement benefits. Provision was limited to subsistence and legal protection, not expansive state-funded services.
Ballooning Deficit at the Expense of Citizens
Democrat-led states and sanctuary cities provide government-issued IDs, housing assistance, food aid, and healthcare at taxpayer expense, resulting in billions of dollars of deficit. [Capitol News; ABC]
2. Foreigners Were Expected to Submit to Israel’s Law, the West is Doing Otherwise
Welcoming foreigners in ancient Israel did not mean exemption from covenant standards. Participation in covenant life required submission (Exodus 12:48). In short, residency meant accountability.
- The sojourner was forbidden from practicing the same moral abominations prohibited to Israel (Leviticus 18:26).
- The foreigner was subject to the same prohibitions against grave sins (Leviticus 20:2).
Soft on Crime Policies
In the United States, some Democrat judges have adopted “soft on crime” policies that allowed repeat offenders—sometimes with dozens of prior arrests—to be released and later commit additional crimes.
In parts of Europe, including the UK and France, stricter hate-speech laws have led to prosecutions of citizens for criticizing illegal migration or Islamist extremism. [Christian persecution]
Equal Punishment for Crime
If a foreigner committed a crime, he was judged within Israel’s courts. Capital offenses such as blasphemy and murder carried the same penalty for both native and stranger (Leviticus 24:16; Numbers 35:16–21).
- Cities of refuge applied equally in cases of manslaughter (Numbers 35:11–15).
- Property crimes required restitution (Exodus 22:1–4).
- Judges were commanded to show no partiality, which would be tantamount to deporting them today (Deuteronomy 17:6; Leviticus 19:15).
3. Covenant Nation and Constitutional States Today
Ancient Israel was a theocracy under the Mosaic covenant (Exodus 19:5–6). Modern governments are secular civil authorities (Romans 13:1–7), not covenant nations.
This means Israel’s civil laws—including its treatment of foreigners—were tied to its unique covenant identity and land promise and cannot be directly applied to the United States or other nations tasked with maintaining constitutional order, enforcing borders, and governing diverse populations under secular law.
To apply Israel’s foreigner laws to constitutional states today would mean enforcing the following:
- A theocratic government — Israel’s highest authority was divine law given through Moses, not a constitution approved by citizens.
- A covenant nation-state — Israel was a geopolitical people uniquely bound to God; the Church is spiritual, not a civil nation (Romans 13:1–7; as emphasized by John MacArthur).
- Mandatory covenant signs — Circumcision for covenant participation and legal penalties for Sabbath violations (Exodus 12:48; Exodus 31:14).
- Ceremonial and purity codes — National enforcement of dietary and ritual laws (Leviticus 11).
“Love thy Neighbors”
Christians are called to love their neighbor and show personal compassion to the stranger who crosses their path, which is not the same as endorsing open borders. Governments bear responsibility for upholding order and enforcing the law (Romans 13:1–4).
The bottom line is that Israel’s treatment of foreigners establishes a moral principle, not a one-to-one policy blueprint for modern states. Today, modern Israel has strict immigration laws and strong border protection—not open borders.
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