Lev 25:1-7 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Lev 25:1-55: 25:1-55 Just as seven days equaled a week ending in a Sabbath day, each seven years ended with a Sabbath year . Likewise, after seven Sabbath years (i.e., 49 years total) came a special year, the Year of Jubilee . Like so many holidays, these occasions were times of reflection on Israel’s corporate identity and how they were shaped by their relationship with God. Because every Israelite, bond or free, had a part in God’s kingdom, those bound in servitude were freed in the Year of Jubilee (25:39-43 ). In order to curb economic hardship and foster well-being, land sales were limited to a maximum term of fifty years. The land was then to be returned to the original owner’s family or clan. The land belonged to the Lord; the Israelites were merely tenants (25:23 ). It is unlikely, however, that these laws saw much use; the best land fell into the hands of rich landowners (Isa 5:8-10 ; cp. Amos 5:11 ).

a25:1-55►

b25:39-43►

c25:23►

dIsa 5:8-10►

eAmos 5:11►

f25:2-7►

gExod 23:10-11►

hExod 21:2►

iDeut 15:1-11►

j25:4►

‏ Leviticus 25:1-7

Summary for Lev 25:1-55: 25:1-55 ^a Just as seven days equaled a week ending in a Sabbath day, each seven years ended with a Sabbath year. Likewise, after seven Sabbath years (i.e., 49 years total) came a special year, the Year of Jubilee. Like so many holidays, these occasions were times of reflection on Israel’s corporate identity and how they were shaped by their relationship with God. Because every Israelite, bond or free, had a part in God’s kingdom, those bound in servitude were freed in the Year of Jubilee (25:39-43 ^b). In order to curb economic hardship and foster well-being, land sales were limited to a maximum term of fifty years. The land was then to be returned to the original owner’s family or clan. The land belonged to the Lord; the Israelites were merely tenants (25:23 ^c). It is unlikely, however, that these laws saw much use; the best land fell into the hands of rich landowners (Isa 5:8-10 ^d; cp. Amos 5:11 ^e).
Summary for Lev 25:2-7: 25:2-7 ^f During the year of Sabbath rest, there was to be no formal cultivation or harvesting of the land; from what grew on its own the landowner could gather what he needed for his household day by day. Whatever remained uneaten was left for the poor and for foreigners (Exod 23:10-11 ^g), and what they left provided food for both wild and domestic animals. See also Exod 21:2 ^h; Deut 15:1-11 ⁱ.
25:4 ^j land must have a Sabbath year: The principle behind the Sabbath (see study note on 19:30) was that God rested and therefore man rests. Here the principle was extended to the land.