Deuteronomy 24:19: a forgotten sheaf may not be retrieved — it belongs to the stranger, fatherless, and widow.

Why could it not be retrieved?

Once forgotten, it transferred to the poor by divine law. The forgetfulness was a provision mechanism.

What blessing was promised?

Deuteronomy 24:19: "that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands."

How does Shikcha relate to other commands?

Together with Peah, Leket, Peret, and Olelot it created comprehensive provision across all agricultural products.

What does Shikcha teach about sufficiency?

The farmer who left the forgotten sheaf practiced sufficiency — connected to Proverbs 11:24: scattering leads to increase.

Commandment #76 · Positive · Social & Ethical Laws

Leave Forgotten Sheaves in the Field — Shikcha

שִׁכְחָה

Source: Deuteronomy 24:19 · Maimonides, Sefer HaMitzvot, Positive #76

A forgotten sheaf in the field could not be retrieved — and Deuteronomy 24:19 promises divine blessing specifically for not going back to get it.

וְשָׁכַחְתָּ עֹמֶר בַּשָּׂדֶה לֹא תָשׁוּב לְקַחְתּוֹ

"And hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it."

Deuteronomy 24:19 — Open in Torah Reader

The Blessed Forgetting: Divine Providence Mechanism

The Shikcha commandment turned forgetfulness into provision. The forgotten sheaf was a delivery mechanism for the poor. Deuteronomy 24:19 adds the extraordinary promise: "that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands." Forgetting a sheaf and not retrieving it earned divine blessing.

The Theology of Enough: Not Returning

יֵשׁ מְפַזֵּר וְנוֹסָד עוֹד

"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth."

Proverbs 11:24

The hardest element: restraining the impulse to return for your own grain. The commandment required practicing sufficiency — the belief that what was gathered was enough.

Ruth and the Gleaning System

Ruth 2:3 records Ruth gleaning 'after the reapers' — the Shikcha and Leket environment. Her gleaning of 30 lbs showed the agricultural commandments were genuine subsistence provision. Peah, Leket, and Shikcha together created a complete support system requiring no administration.

Key Figures

The Forgetful Farmer — The Blessed Leaver

Forgetting a sheaf plus not returning became an act of generosity that God rewarded.

Ruth — The Shikcha Beneficiary

Her gleaning behind the reapers shows the system functioning as designed.

Study Questions

For reflection and group study

Shikcha turned forgetfulness into divine provision. What does making a human mistake into a covenant opportunity say?

See Deut 24:19; Ruth 2:3; Rom 8:28

Not returning required restraining the impulse to retrieve your own property. What practice of the soul is this developing?

See Deut 24:19; Prov 11:24–25; Luke 12:15

Blessing was promised specifically for not retrieving. Is this transactional or formational?

See Deut 24:19; 14:29; Mal 3:10

Peah, Leket, and Shikcha required no government administration. What does self-executing poverty provision say about the Torah's social welfare vision?

See Lev 19:9–10; Deut 24:19–22

Proverbs 11:24 says scattering leads to increase. What does this say about the mechanism Shikcha operated within?

See Prov 11:24; Deut 24:19; Luke 6:38

Read this commandment in the original Hebrew.

Open Deuteronomy 24:19 in Torah Reader

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