Levítico 25
Matthew Henry · Citado em PreceptAustin
Levítico 25
Henry - All labour was to cease in the seventh year, as much as daily labour on the seventh day. These statues tell us to beware of covetousness, for a man's life consists not in the abundance of his possessions. We are to exercise willing dependence on God's providence for our support; to consider ourselves the Lord's tenants or stewards, and to use our possessions accordingly. This year of rest typified the spiritual rest which all believers enter into through Christ. Through Him we are eased of the burden of wordly care and labour, both being sanctified and sweetened to us; and we are enabled and encouraged to live by faith. William MacDonald Notes on Leviticus 25 - The legislation in chapters 25-27 was given from Mount Sinai and not from the tabernacle (Lev 25:1; 26:46; 27:34). Every seventh year was to be observed as a sabbath. The land was to lie fallow (uncultivated). Food for the people would be provided from the crop that grew of itself. The owner was not to harvest it, but leave it for free use by the people. The fiftieth year was also a sabbath, known as the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:8-17). It began on the Day of Atonement following seven sabbatic-year cycles (49 years). Slaves were to be set free, the land was to lie fallow, and the land was to revert to its original owner. The price of a slave or a piece of land decreased as the Year of Jubilee approached (Lev 25:15-17), and all business transactions were supposed to take this fact into account. The words “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Lev 25:10 KJV) are inscribed on the U.S. Liberty Bell. Believers today may liken the Year of Jubilee to the coming of the Lord. As we get closer to His coming, our material wealth decreases in value. The moment He comes, our money, real estate, and investments will be worthless to us. The moral is to put these things to work for Him today. With regard to the sabbatic year, the people might wonder how they would have enough food to eat that year, and also the following year until their crops were harvested. God promised them that if they were obedient He would give them sufficient crops during the sixth year to last for three years (Lev 25:18-22). This would take care of the one time every 50 years when the Year of Jubilee followed the sabbatic year—in other words, when the people would not sow their fields for two years. They would have enough to last till the harvest of the third year. Land could be sold, but not forever, because Jehovah is the Owner (Lev 25:23). There were three ways in which land could be “redeemed” (revert to its original Jewish owner): The nearest relative could buy it back for the seller (Lev 25:25); the seller, if he regained financial solvency, could redeem it, paying the purchaser for the years remaining until the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:26, 27); otherwise, the land automatically reverted to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:28). A house in a walled city was subject to redemption for one year; after that, it became the property of the new owner forever (Lev 25:29, 30). Houses in unwalled villages were considered as part of the land and therefore reverted to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:31). Houses owned by the Levites in the special cities assigned to them were always subject to being bought back by the Levites (Lev 25:32, 33). The fields assigned to the Levites for pasture-ground were not to be sold. If an Israelite fell into debt and poverty, his Jewish creditors were not to oppress him (Lev 25:35-38). They were not to charge him interest on money or demand additional food for food loaned (Lev 25:37). If an impoverished Israelite sold himself to a Jewish creditor for nonpayment of debt, he was not to be treated as a slave but as a hired servant, and was to be released in the Year of Jubilee, if this came before the end of his six years of service (Lev 25:39-43). The Jews were permitted to have slaves from the Gentile nations, and these were considered their own property, to be handed down to their descendants. But Jewish people were not to be used as slaves (Lev 25:44-46). If a Jew sold himself to a Gentile who happened to be living in the land, the Jew could always be bought back and set free. The redemption price was determined by the number of years remaining until the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:47-55). The relative redeeming the Jew could use him as a hired servant until the Jubilee (Lev 25:53). If no relative redeemed him, then he automatically went free in the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:54). This chapter is a vivid reminder that the Israelites (Lev 25:55) and their land (Lev 25:23) belonged to the Lord and that He should be recognized as rightful Owner. Neither God’s people nor God’s land could be sold permanently. Leviticus 25:2 "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land which I shall give you, then the land shall have a Sabbath to the LORD. When ye (KJV): Lev 14:34 De 32:8,49 34:4 Ps 24:1,2 115:16 Isa 8:8 Jer 27:5 keep (KJV): Heb. rest, Lev 23:32 *marg: a sabbath (KJV): Lev 26:34,35 Ex 23:10 2Ch 36:21 Note the phrase "a Sabbath to the LORD." It is as if when we obey and keep the Sabbath to rest we do it as unto the Lord.
Levítico 25
Henry - Lev 25:35-38. Poverty and decay are great grievances, and very common; the poor ye have always with you. Thou shalt relieve him; by sympathy, pitying the poor; by service, doing for them; and by supply, giving to them according to their necessity, and thine ability. Poor debtors must not be oppressed. Observe the arguments here used against extortion: "Fear thy God." Relieve the poor, "that they may live with thee;" for they may be serviceable to thee. The rich can as ill spare the poor, as the poor can the rich. It becomes those that have received mercy to show mercy. Ryrie - Lev 25:35-46 Poor Israelites were to be assisted in every way and without interest (cf. Ex. 22:25). If one sold himself to a fellow Israelite, he was to be treated as a hired person rather than a slave. Slave labor came only from the heathen nations (cf. v. 44).