Judaism

A plant sheltered Jonah, then a worm made it wither. God recalled his sorrow for that plant and questioned him about compassion for Nineveh, with its inhabitants and animals.

Leviticus instructs those harvesting a field not to reap right up to its edges or gather fallen ears. A vineyard, too, must not be stripped bare or its fallen grapes collected: what remains is left for the poor and the foreigner. The command ends with a reference to the Lord, the God of Israel.

In Mamre, during the heat of the day, Abraham sits at the entrance to his tent. He sees three men, runs to meet them and bows. He invites them to stay, offering water to wash their feet and rest beneath a tree. He asks Sarah to prepare bread, chooses a calf and has a servant prepare it. He brings food, curds and milk to the visitors and stands beside them as they eat.