Leviticus 25 - Introduction
_OF THE SABBATICAL YEAR, AND THE YEAR OF JUBILEE: LAWS INCULCATING BENEVOLENCE AND COMPASSION._ _Before Christ 1490._... [ Continue Reading ]
_OF THE SABBATICAL YEAR, AND THE YEAR OF JUBILEE: LAWS INCULCATING BENEVOLENCE AND COMPASSION._ _Before Christ 1490._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SPAKE—IN MOUNT SINAI— The particle rendered _in,_ might, with as much propriety, be rendered _at,_ or _near._ The word _sabbath,_ Leviticus 25:2. &c. would have been better translated throughout this chapter by the word _rest,_ as in the margin of our English Bibles. The first mention of th... [ Continue Reading ]
A SABBATH FOR THE LORD— As the weekly sabbath was a testimony of their belief in and homage to God the Creator, so the yearly sabbath was a public testimony that their land was consecrated to the same God; that he had settled them in it as his true worshippers, and that they held it as tenants under... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS A YEAR OF REST UNTO THE LAND— It is a known rule in husbandry, that land requires rest; and therefore it is generally laid fallow, in order to recruit its strength: this, doubtless, among others, was a reason for the present institution. _The sabbath of the land,_ in the next verse, signifies... [ Continue Reading ]
_LEVITICUS 25:8_. &C. _AND THOU SHALT NUMBER SEVEN SABBATHS OF YEARS UNTO THEE_— Or, _Seven weeks of years unto thee._ As the sabbatical year was to be every seventh year, so the year of jubilee was to be every seventh sabbatical year; and though of greater dignity, and honoured with some higher pri... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE TENTH DAY OF THE SEVENTH MONTH— Calmet observes from Maimonides, that "though the jubilee year began on the first day of the month _Tizri,_ or September, yet neither were the slaves restored to liberty, nor the lands returned to their first owners, till the tenth day of that month. The nine f... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL HALLOW THE FIFTIETH YEAR— i.e. Ye shall distinguish it from all other years in the manner here appointed. The Hebrew is, _the year of the fiftieth year,_ which may either signify the year preceding the fiftieth year, or the fiftieth year; a round number for 49. Calculators also should remem... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL NOT OPPRESS ONE ANOTHER— This would be rendered more properly, _shall not deceive one another;_ for the context evidently proves that _deceit,_ not _oppression,_ was here the evil guarded against. The Chaldee, Syriac, Arabic, &c. render it _deceive._... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU SHALT FEAR THY GOD— See Proverbs 16:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND IN SAFETY— Hebrew, _boldly, without fear._ For the original word בטח _betach,_ says Dr. Beaumont, signifies both the _confidence_ or _boldness_ which men, who trust in God, and walk in his ways, have within themselves; and that _safety_ and secure estate wherein God settle... [ Continue Reading ]
_LEVITICUS 25:20_, &C. _AND IF YE SHALL SAY,_ &C.— This increase which the Lord promises to give in the sixth year, was a continual proof to the Jews of his regard to them, of his immediate government, and consequently of his particular providence over them; another striking advantage of the present... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAND SHALL NOT BE SOLD FOR EVER— That is, absolutely and irredeemably: the reason of which is subjoined, because God considered himself as the peculiar lord and proprietor of this land, and the people as his immediate tenants and usufructuaries: which points out to us the striking peculiarity of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN ALL THE LAND—YE SHALL GRANT A REDEMPTION— See chap. Leviticus 27:20. Provision is made in this and the following verses for the redemption of such land as a man had been obliged to sell through poverty. If any of his relations would redeem it, or if himself should become able afterwards to re... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY OF HIS KIN COME TO REDEEM IT— The word גאל _goel, a redeemer,_ signifies also a _near kinsman;_ to whom the right of redeeming lands, houses, or persons, and also the avenging of blood, belongs: which _kinsman,_ in this work of redeeming, was often a figure of Christ, who being near to us, an... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A MAN SELL A DWELLING-HOUSE, &C.— Great difference is here made between houses _in walled cities,_ and in the country: the former, if sold, were either to be redeemed within the compass of _a year,_ or else to return no more to the first owner, not even at the jubilee; whereas houses in the count... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOUSE THAT IS IN THE WALLED CITY— In the Hebrew it is, _in a city that hath not a wall:_ but because this seems contrary to the former, it is written and noted in the margin of our English Bibles to be read, _hath a wall._ See chap. Leviticus 11:22 for a like double reading. And it seems that th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY MAY BE REDEEMED, AND, &C.— It is very evident that the _and_ here would be rendered more properly _else,_ or _otherwise._... [ Continue Reading ]
NOTWITHSTANDING, THE CITIES OF THE LEVITES, &C.— The Levites' city-houses are exempted from the general law respecting houses in cities; the reason for which is given in the 33rd verse, _For the houses of the cities,_ &c. The body of the Levites being a standing and perpetual body, they could not ab... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF THY BROTHER BE WAXEN POOR— The two great benefits of the year of jubilee were, a restoration to possessions and to freedom, Leviticus 25:10. Such particulars as respect possessions being settled, the case of freedom, or the release of servants and slaves, comes next to be considered: wherein... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THOU NO USURY OF HIM, &C.— This is explained by the next verse. See Exodus 22:25. _That thy brother may live with thee,_ signifies that he may _prosper_ and _thrive,_ &c. for, _to live,_ in the Scripture, frequently signifies _to be comfortable;_ Deuteronomy 8:1. A stronger motive to induce the... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL—SERVE THEE UNTIL THE YEAR OF JUBILEE— In Exodus 21:2 it is said, that _an Hebrew servant being bought should serve only six years, and go out in the seventh._ The difference between these passages is supposed to consist in this: that the case in Exodus refers to such slaves as were sold by... [ Continue Reading ]
_LEVITICUS 25:42_, &C. _FOR THEY ARE MY SERVANTS,_ &C.— A great distinction is made between native Israelites and strangers in the case of servitude; and the reason urged is, that the meanest Israelite, as well as the richest, was redeemed from Egyptian bondage, and had this honour, to be the peculi... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A SOJOURNER—WAX RICH, &C.— Equitable in all his laws, God here provides that the sojourner in Israel should have the same legal advantages with the native: to whom, if reduced, though he grants the peculiar privilege of being redeemed before the jubilee, if he has it in his power, or, if he has n... [ Continue Reading ]