Leviticus 25 Study Notes

25:23 The land refers to the promised land. The notion of God’s ownership of the land occurs throughout the OT (Ex 15:17; Ps 10:16; 85:1; Is 14:2,25; Jr 2:7; Ezk 36:5; 38:16; Hs 9:3).

25:25 In order to keep property in the family, a well-off relative, known as a family redeemer, was allowed to buy it. This law was applied when Ruth was redeemed by Boaz after her closest family redeemer refused to marry her.

25:32-34 Even though the Levites were not allotted permanent property in the promised land (Nm 18:23; 26:62), they were provided permanent residences and pastureland. These consisted of forty-eight towns and their surrounding fields (Nm 35:1-8). Sacred cities similar to these Levitical cities have been found in Ugarit and Mesopotamia.

25:35-38 A destitute Israelite who became impoverished was supposed to be supported by his fellow Israelites, who were not allowed to profit from the needs of the poor. The text implies that if a person took advantage of his impoverished brother, he did not fear . . . God.

25:39-55 God provided for the poor who had to sell themselves as indentured servants. However, slavery for an Israelite could only be a temporary condition, and the law prohibited harsh treatment and provided for release in the Year of Jubilee. Proslavery movements in recent history have misused passages in Leviticus by ignoring their provisions and limitations.

25:55 Although most English versions read servants rather than “slaves” here and in v. 42, the Hebrew word is the same as that rendered “slaves” elsewhere in the chapter (‘ebed).