Beg: That the poor existed among the Hebrews we have abundant evidence (Exodus 23:11; Deuteronomy 15:11), but there is no mention of beggars properly so called in the Old Testament. The poor were provided for by the law of Moses (Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 12:12; 14:29). It is predicted of the seed of the wicked that they shall be beggars (Psalm 37:25; 109:10).

In the New Testament we find not seldom mention made of beggars (Mark 10:46; Luke 16:20,21; Acts 3:2), yet there is no mention of such a class as vagrant beggars, so numerous in the East. "Beggarly," in Galatians 4:9, means worthless.