Hope Enacted: Deuteronomy 15 and the Practice of Release
(2026) Pilgrims of Hope: Interface of Perspectives on Hope – Silver Jubilee ILAAM Conference — Location: Kakkanad, India (13.February.2026)
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- In the Old Testament, the theme of hope is expressed most explicitly in the Psalms and Wisdom literature, often through verbs such as qāwāh, ḥākāh, baṭaḥ, or yaḥal, and their derivatives (miqweh, tiqwāh, beṭaḥ, or tôḥelet). Strikingly, this vocabulary is almost entirely absent from the book of Deuteronomy, even though it is frequently regarded as a related to Wisdom literature. This raises the question of whether, and in what way, the theme of hope is nevertheless present in Deuteronomy. This paper argues that, although the motif of hope appears only implicitly in Deuteronomy, it plays a significant role within the text. This is particularly evident in Deuteronomy 15, which addresses the remission of debts and the restoration of freedom and future prospects to slaves – a passage where hope is deeply theologically grounded. Moreover, this text presents hope not as an abstract concept, but as something embodied in concrete social and ethical action that creates space for renewed opportunity and life within the community of ancient Israel.
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Ausloos, H. (2026). Hope Enacted: Deuteronomy 15 and the Practice of Release. Pilgrims of Hope: Interface of Perspectives on Hope – Silver Jubilee ILAAM Conference, Kakkanad, India. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/272659