idlers could easily drift into evil (Wis. 13:13Then the good-for-nothing refuse from these remnants, crooked wood grown full of knots, he takes and carves to occupy his spare time. This wood he models with mindless skill, and patterns it on the image of a human being; Sir. 22:1-2 Lazy people are no better than dung; they are repulsive, and no one wants to get near them; 33:26-30 You can use a harness and yoke to tame an animal, and a slave can be tortured in the stocks. Keep him at work, and don’t let him be idle; idleness can only teach him how to make trouble. Work is what he needs. If he won’t obey you, put him in chains. But don’t be too severe with anyone, and never be unfair. 30 If you have a slave, treat him as you would want to be treated; you bought him with your hard-earned money.).
The idler thus does not fulfil the purpose of human life, which is to help all things work together as God intends (Gen. 1:26-27). Third, to provide for the idlers J the community used resources that could have gone to better purposes. By contrast, working generates materials for life and blessing for one’s household and that of the community (Ps. 128:2; Prov. 31:27; Ecc. 11:6). It keeps one focused on the good and distracts from evil (Sir. 24:22 Whoever obeys me won’t be ashamed, and those who work with me won’t sin.” 33:28-30 Put them to work so that they aren’t idle, because idleness teaches many evils. Set them to work, as is proper for them, and if they don’t obey, make their shackles heavy. Don’t overburden a person made of flesh, and don’t do anything without exercising good judgment.).
recognisingjewishrootsinthelectionary 