Lev 25:23-28 | TNotes | STEP | 25:23 the land belongs to me: Israel’s ownership of the land was derivative, not absolute—ownership depended on the covenant, in which God himself allotted them the land (Deut 1:8 , 39 ). The ideas of land stewardship and of sharing material resources stem naturally from this concept of God’s ownership.

a25:23►

bDeut 1:8►

c39►

d25:25►

eRuth 4:1-4►

fJer 32:6-15►

gNum 35:19►

hDeut 25:5-10►

iGen 38:6-30►

jRuth 4:9-10►

‏ Leviticus 25:23-28

25:23 ^a the land belongs to me: Israel’s ownership of the land was derivative, not absolute—ownership depended on the covenant, in which God himself allotted them the land (Deut 1:8 ^b, 39 ^c). The ideas of land stewardship and of sharing material resources stem naturally from this concept of God’s ownership.
25:25 ^d The Hebrew word translated buy it back (ga’al) is often translated “redeem.” It means “to restore something to its original or proper state of existence.” The noun derived from this root (go’el) indicates the close relative who will restore what is out of order. The relative’s duties were to redeem the property of his kinsman and keep it in the family (see Ruth 4:1-4 ^e; Jer 32:6-15 ^f); to seek out the murderer of his kinsman and bring him to justice (Num 35:19 ^g); and to marry his brother’s widow and father a male heir to inherit the estate of his dead kinsman (Deut 25:5-10 ^h; see Gen 38:6-30 ⁱ; Ruth 4:9-10 ^j).