CHAPTER XXV _The law concerning the Sabbatical or seventh year repeated_, 1-7. _The law relative to the jubilee, or fiftieth year, and the_ _hallowing of the fiftieth_, 8-12. _In the year of jubilee every one to return unto his_ _possessions_, 13. _None to oppress another in buying and sellin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Leviticus 25:2. _THE LAND KEEP A SABBATH_] See this ordinance explained, Exodus 23:11, Exodus 23:11. It may be asked here: if it required all the annual produce of the field to support the inhabitants, how could the people be nourished the seventh year, when no produce was received from the f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Leviticus 25:8. _THOU SHALT NUMBER SEVEN SABBATHS OF YEARS_] This seems to state that the jubilee was to be celebrated on the _forty-ninth year_; but in Leviticus 25:10; Leviticus 25:11 it is said, _Ye shall hallow the fiftieth year_, and, _A jubilee shall this_ _fiftieth year be_. Probably i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Leviticus 25:11. _A JUBILEE SHALL THAT FIFTIETH YEAR BE_] The literal meaning of the word _jubilee_, יובל yobel in _Hebrew_, and יוביל _yobil_ in the _Samaritan_, has not been well ascertained. _Josephus_ and the _rabbins_ have caused many to err; the former says the word signifies _liberty_;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Leviticus 25:14. _YE SHALL NOT OPPRESS ONE ANOTHER_] Ye shall take no advantage of each other's _ignorance_ either in _buying_ or _selling_; for he that buys an article at _less_ than it is worth, or sells one for _more_ than it is worth, taking advantage in both cases of the _ignorance_ of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Leviticus 25:15. _ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF YEARS_] The purchases that were to be made of lands were to be regulated by the number of years unelapsed of the current jubilee. This was something like buying the unexpired term of a lease among us; the purchase is always regulated by the _number... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Leviticus 25:20. _WHAT SHALL WE EAT THE SEVENTH YEAR?_] A very natural question, which could only be laid at rest by the sovereign promise in the next verse: _I will_ COMMAND _my_ BLESSING _upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for_ THREE YEARS. Leviticus 25:2, Leviticus 2... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Leviticus 25:23. _THE LAND SHALL NOT BE SOLD FOR EVER - THE LAND IS_ _MINE_] As God in a miraculous manner gave them possession of this land, they were therefore to consider themselves merely as _tenants_ to him; and on this ground _he_, as the great landholder or lord of the soil, prescribes... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Leviticus 25:25. _ANY OF HIS KIN COME TO REDEEM IT_] The land that was sold might be redeemed, in the interim between jubilee and jubilee, by the _former owner_ or by one of his _kinsmen_ or _relatives_. This _kinsman_ is called in the text גאל _goel_ or _redeemer_; and was not this a lively e... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _SELL A DWELLING HOUSE IN A WALLED CITY_] A very proper difference is put between houses in a _city_ and houses in the _country_. If a man sold his house in the _city_, he might redeem it any time in the course of a _year_; but if it were not redeemed within that time, it could no more be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _THE CITIES OF THE LEVITES_] The law in this and the following verses was also a very wise one. A _Levite_ could not ultimately sell his house: if sold he could redeem it at any time tn the interim between the two jubilees; but if not redeemed, it must go out at the following jubilee. And... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. _TAKE THOU NO USURY OF HIM_] Usury, at present, signifies unlawful interest for money. Properly, it means the _reward_ or _compensation_ given for the use of a thing, but is principally spoken of _money_. For the definition of the original term, Exodus 22:25, Exodus 22:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Leviticus 25:42. _FOR THEY ARE MY SERVANTS_] As God redeemed every Israelite out of Egyptian bondage, they were therefore to consider themselves as his property, and that consequently they should not alienate themselves from him. It was in being his _servants_, and devoted to his work, that bo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Leviticus 25:43. _THOU SHALT NOT RULE OVER HIM WITH RIGOUR_] What is rigorous service? "Service which is not _determined_, and service whereof _there is no need_." This is the definition given by the Jews; but much more is implied in this command than is expressed here. Labour beyond the perso... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Leviticus 25:50. _THE PRICE OF HIS SALE SHALL BE, C._] This was a very equitable law, both for the sojourner to whom the man was sold, and to the Israelite who had been thus sold. The Israelite might redeem himself, or one of his kindred might redeem him but this must not be done to the preju... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Leviticus 25:55. _FOR UNTO ME THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ARE SERVANTS_] The _reason_ of this law we have already seen, (Leviticus 25:42,) but we must look farther to see the great _end_ of it. The Israelites were a _typical_ people; they represented those under the Gospel dispensation who are chi... [ Continue Reading ]