Collected in A Witness Tree, An Equalizer is one of three poems that criticize the politics of the day and at the same time suggests ways of addressing the problem of poverty. These poems are in a group called
“Quantula" which means How Small? According to Deirdre Fagan,
Frosts lampoons Roosevelt’s New Deal, which sought to create jobs and lessen the disparity between rich and poor.
The reduction of this disparity, Frost implies, will prevent cases of the poor stealing from the rich by stealth. In this poem and A Semi-Revolution, Frost recognizes the persistence of poverty. In the last line of An Equalizer, he suggests that "We now and then should take an equalizer" while in A Semi-Revolution he notes that actions aimed at bridging the gap between the gap between the rich and the poor "should be done by halves."
The diagnosis of a societal malady by many and Frost (Frost actually says the gap should be lessened "for the public health") mirrors Moses's. Marilynne Robinson, in one of her essays, also suggests that Europe might have learned a thing or two from Moses on how to handle the widening gap between the rich and the poor. What an equalizer (halved) and a semi-revolution would have looked like for Mose can be seen in his law on jubilee and reduction of poverty.
While preserving the right to private property, the Mosaic law on jubilee and reduction of poverty through the reduction of inequality is outlined in the book of Leviticus, specifically in chapters 25 and 27.
The Jubilee Year
The jubilee year was to be celebrated every 50 years, after seven cycles of seven years (Leviticus 25:8-11). The year was a time of liberation, restoration, and renewal. It was set up to prevent the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few individuals (Leviticus 25:13-17). During the jubilee year, all slaves were to be set free, and all debts were to be forgiven (Leviticus 25:40-43, Deuteronomy 15:1-2). Additionally, the land was to lie fallow, and everyone was to return to their ancestral property (Leviticus 25:23-24).
The Sabbatical Year
The sabbatical year was to be celebrated every seven years (Leviticus 25:1-7). It was designed to provide rest for the land and the poor. It was also a time for the Israelites to trust in God's provision and sovereignty (Leviticus 25:20-22). During the sabbatical year, the land was to lie fallow, and all debts were to be forgiven (Deuteronomy 15:1-2). The poor were also to be provided for, and the Israelites were to trust in God's provision (Leviticus 25:35-36).
These Mosaic laws show a strong concern for the poor and the vulnerable. The Israelites were commanded to care for the poor, the widow, and the orphan (Deuteronomy 15:7-11, 24:17-22).
The law provided for the poor through various means, including the sabbatical year, the jubilee year, and the requirement to leave a portion of the harvest for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10, 23:22).
It warned against exploiting the poor and the vulnerable and commanded the Israelites to treat them with justice and compassion (Exodus 22:25-27, Deuteronomy 24:14-15).
Overall, the Mosaic law on jubilee and poverty demonstrates a strong commitment to social justice, equality, and compassion. It provides a framework for caring for the poor and the vulnerable, and for promoting economic equality and freedom.