II Kings 24-25

“Then he led away into exile all Jerusalem and all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives … None remained except the poorest people of the land” (24:14, 25:12).  The poor weren’t necessarily all righteous, but they had probably endured the worst consequences of their leaders’ wickedness.  Manasseh in particular had “filled Jerusalem with innocent blood” (v4).  Without money or position, the poor were at the mercy of robbery, violence and broken laws.

God had given Israel special laws that respected everyone (Lev 19:9-15).  In the world, the strong win and the weak suffer, but God calls His people to be different.