v1-7: The Sabbath Year
The Sabbath Year, also known as the Shemitah year, happens on the seventh year. The land is to have a Sabbath rest. During this year, the Israelites are not to sow their fields, prune their vineyards, or harvest what grows by itself. The land is to lie fallow, and whatever it produces naturally is to be used as food for everyone, including servants, hired workers, and even animals.
The reasons for Sabbath Year is to allow faith development to trust God to provide their needs without doing any agricultural work. This period of rest symbolizes renewal and rejuvenation for people and the land, both physically and spiritually. It reminds the people to be kind and generous to one another, for all the produce was available to everyone including the poor and stranger. This "short term" retirement allows individuals to step back from their daily routines, and to reflect their lives and seek for spiritual renewal.
They found that the Sabbath Year has scientific benefits as well. For example:
a) Soil Fertility: Resting the land helps maintain soil fertility. Continuous farming can deplete essential nutrients from the soil. A fallow period allows the soil to naturally regenerate and restore its nutrient balance.
b) Pest and Disease Control: Crop rotation and fallow periods can help break the life cycles of pests and diseases. Without a host crop, pests and pathogens have fewer opportunities to thrive.
c) Erosion Prevention: Allowing the land to rest can reduce soil erosion. Without constant tilling and planting, the soil structure remains more stable, reducing the risk of erosion by wind and water.
d) Biodiversity: A fallow period can encourage the growth of native plants and increase biodiversity. This can create a more balanced ecosystem and improve the overall health of the land.
v8-55: The Year of Jubilee
The rest of the chapter is about the Year of Jubilee. It occurs every 50 years, which is after seven cycles of Sabbath years (49 years).
"And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan." (v10)
These are thing they are to do or not to do:
(a) Proclaim Liberty: On the Day of Atonement in the 50th year, a trumpet is to be sounded throughout the land to proclaim liberty to all its inhabitants (Leviticus 25:9-10). The Day of Atonement is a significant and solemn day of repentance and atonement, marking the culmination of the Ten Days of Repentance that begin with Rosh Hashanah, the new year. This blast of trumpet is when the year of Jubilee begins. Just as Jesus atoned for our sins and gave us a new life, they now have to live differently in the Jubilee year.
(b) Return Property: Each person is to return to their ancestral property and family. This ensures that land sold due to financial hardship is returned to its original owner in the year of Jubilee. (Leviticus 25:10, 13, 28b - 31). The land lease is 49 years.
Note there are two exemptions to this rule:
i) If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, he has the right to redeem it (buy back) within a year of its sale. If the house is not redeemed within that year, it becomes the permanent property of the buyer and does not revert to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee. However, houses in villages without walls are treated like fields of the land. They can be redeemed at anytime and will revert to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee. (v29-31)
The reason a house in a wall city and a village without walls are treated differently is to distinguish the urban and rural life. In rural areas, land and houses were closely tied to agricultural activities and family heritage. In contrast, urban properties were more likely to be bought and sold as part of commercial transactions. The houses within the wall are often more valuable and provides greater security against invasions and attacks. This makes it less likely that the people will sell and redeem such property frequently.
ii) Levites are exceptional to the rules of houses within the wall. They are allowed to redeem their houses at anytime, and they have right to be given back the house in the year of Jubilee. The fields of pastureland belonging to the Levites' cities could not be sold at all, as they were considered their permanent possession. (v32-34)
These provisions ensured that the Levites, who did not receive a territorial inheritance like the other tribes, could maintain their property and have a secure place to live. It also recognized the unique role of the Levites in serving the religious needs of the community.
(e) Redemption of Property: If someone becomes poor and sells part of their property, their nearest relative is to come and redeem what was sold. If the person gains the means to redeem it themselves, they can do so by paying back the balance. If the person does not have sufficient means to redeem the property, it remains with the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. Again, the exceptions due to walled-city and Levites should be applied (Leviticus 25:25-28a).
(c) Rest for the Land: Just like the Sabbath Year, the land is to have a rest. No sowing, reaping, or gathering of crops is allowed. The land is to lie fallow, and whatever it produces naturally is to be used as food (Leviticus 25:11-12).
There may be concern that there may not be enough food since they have not been farming for two years (Sabbath Year and Jubilee Year). Verse 28-22 answers this worry by saying: "I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years."
(d) Fair Transactions: Any sales or purchases of land are to be conducted fairly, taking into account the number of years until the next Jubilee. The price of the land should be based on the number of years remaining until the next Jubilee. The closer it is to the Jubilee, the lower the price should be, reflecting the reduced number of harvests the buyer will get before the land returns to its original owner. (Leviticus 25:14-16).
(f) Release of Slaves: If an Israelite becomes poor and sells themselves into servitude, they are to be treated as hired workers and not as slaves. They and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee and return to their family and ancestral property (Leviticus 25:39-41).
God said that the slaves are His servants, whom He brought out of Egypt. They should not rule them ruthlessly, and they shall fear God.
A few things to note about slavery:
i) If an Israelite buys slaves from other nations or from foreigners in their land, they and their descendants become his ownership. These slaves can be inherited as property and passed on to their children. The Israelites are permitted to make slaves of them permanently. (v44-46)
Slavery was a common practice in many ancient civilizations, including those surrounding Israel. Selling oneself into servitude could provide food, shelter, and security that might not be available otherwise. The laws in the Torah provided regulations to ensure more humane treatment of slaves compared to other cultures. Over time, the principles of justice, mercy, and equality found in the Torah influenced later Jewish and Christian thought, contributing to the eventual rejection of slavery.
ii) If a stranger or sojourner bought an Israelites as their slave, his brother or relatives (uncle, cousin, etc) can redeem him. His price is calculated from the year of his sale to the year of Jubilee. The time he spent with his owner is rated as the time of hired worker. The longer the years to Jubilee, the price is higher; the shorter the years, the price will be lower. If he is not redeemed, then he and his children shall be released in the year of Jubilee. Furthermore, the stranger or sojourner shall treat his Israelite slave as a hired worker and not rule him ruthlessly. (v47-55)
This is similar to the Kinsman-Redeemer Law, practiced in the book of Ruth. Boaz was her second kinsman-redeemer and married her, since the first kinsman refuse to take her.
(g) Kindness to the Poor: The Israelites are instructed to support their poor brothers, lending to them without interest and providing for their needs, including allowing them to be a temporary residents and live with them. They shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. (Leviticus 25:35-37). This highlights God' mercy and compassion over the poor.
These instructions emphasize themes of justice, mercy, and restoration, ensuring that economic disparities are addressed and that everyone has the opportunity to start anew.
These are some of the ideas that can be used to benefit the modern world:
a) Economic Equality. The idea of redistributing land and forgiving debts can inspire contemporary policies aimed at reducing economic inequality. Concepts like debt relief, land reform, and social safety nets can draw from these ancient practices to create a more equitable society.
b) Social Justice. The emphasis on supporting the poor and ensuring fair treatment of workers aligns with modern social justice movements. Policies that protect workers' rights, provide social services, and promote economic fairness can be seen as modern reflections of these ancient laws.
c) Environmental Stewardship. Sustainable practices and conservation efforts can be seen as modern applications of these ancient principles. The concept of stewardship over the land can inspire contemporary efforts to protect and preserve natural resources.
While the direct implementation of these practices might be challenging in a modern context, the underlying values of sustainability, equity, justice, and community can certainly inform and inspire contemporary policies and practices.
Jesus is our true Jubilee, to free us from our sinful debts and gave us forgiveness. As it says in John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
Did The Israelites Obey The Rules of Jubilee Year?
God told them that if they obeyed his rules, He will protect them while living there.
Verse 18 says: “Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely."
However, it was apparent that the Israelites did not practice the Jubilee year completely or none at all. Jeremiah 34:17 says "“Therefore, thus says the Lord: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and to his neighbor; behold, I proclaim to you liberty to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine, declares the Lord. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth."
They forgot two critical things:
(a) The land belongs to God. Verse 23 says: "“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me." This also means other things that they have are given to them to steward. They don't belong to them, for they are the servants of God. However, greed and pride caused them to refuse to obey God.
(b) They do not fear God. (v17, v36, v43) Though there were 3 times that God ask them fear the Lord, they are foolish enough to disobey him. Many prophets came to warn them, but when they are too stubborn, God brought the Assyrians and Babylonians to exile them.
We, as Christians, should always remember nothing belongs to us, as they are gifts from God and we are the steward for the them with an objective of honoring and glorifying God.
We should always "fear God" - this doesn't mean being afraid of God in a negative sense. Instead, it refers to a deep respect, reverence, and awe for God's power, holiness, and authority. It's about recognizing God's greatness and living in a way that honors Him.
A well-known verse that captures this concept is Proverbs 9:10: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."
This verse highlights that fearing God is foundational to gaining wisdom and understanding. It's about acknowledging God's sovereignty and aligning one's life with His will.
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