Leviticus 25:34-44

34 " 'But the grasslands around their towns must never be sold. They will belong to them for all time to come.
35 " 'Suppose one of your own people becomes poor. And suppose he can't take care of himself. Then help him just as you would help an outsider or someone who is living among you for a while. In that way, the man who is poor can continue to live among you.
36 " 'Do not charge him interest of any kind. Instead, have respect for me. Then the man who has become poor can continue to live among you.
37 If you lend him money, you must not charge him interest. And you must not sell him food for more than it cost you.
38 " 'I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of Egypt. I did it to give you the land of Canaan. I wanted to be your God.
39 " 'Suppose one of your own people becomes poor. And suppose he sells himself to you. Then do not make him work as a slave.
40 You must treat him like a hired worker. Or you must treat him like someone who is living among you for a while. " 'He must work for you until the Year of Jubilee.
41 Then he and his children must be set free. He will go back to his own tribe. He will go back to the property his people have always owned.
42 " 'The people of Israel are my servants. I brought them out of Egypt. So they must not be sold as slaves.
43 Show them pity when you rule over them. Have respect for me.
44 " 'You must get your male and female slaves from the nations that are around you. You can buy slaves from them.

Leviticus 25:34-44 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 25

In this chapter the Israelites are directed, when come into the land of Canaan, to observe every seventh year as a sabbatical year, in which there was to be no tillage of the land, and yet there would be a sufficiency for man and beast, Le 25:1-7; and every fiftieth year as a year of jubilee, in which also there was to be no tillage of the land, and every man was to return to his possession or estate, which had been sold to another any time before this, Le 25:8-17; and a promise of safety and plenty in the seventh year is made to encourage the observance of it, Le 25:18-22; and several laws and rules are delivered out concerning the sale of lands, the redemption of them, and their return to their original owner in the year of jubilee, Le 25:23-28; and the sale of houses, and the redemption of them, and the difference between those in walled cities and those in villages, with respect thereunto, Le 25:29-31; and also concerning the houses of the cities of the Levites, and the fields of the suburbs of them, Le 25:32-34; to which are added some instructions about relieving decayed, persons, and lending and giving to them, without taking usury of them, Le 25:34-38; and other laws concerning the release of such Israelites as had sold themselves for servants to the Israelites, in the year of jubilee, since none but Heathens were to be bondmen and bondmaids for ever, Le 25:39-46; and of such who were sold to proselytes, Le 25:47-55.

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