Leviticus 26:34

34 Then the land shall enjoy its sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies' land; then the land shall rest and enjoy its sabbaths.

Leviticus 26:34 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 26:34

Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths
The sabbatical years, or seventh year sabbaths, when, according to the law in the preceding chapter, it was to rest from tillage, ( Leviticus 25:2-4 ) : as long as it lieth desolate, and ye [be] in your enemies' land;
so long it should lie uncultivated, at least in part, there not being a sufficient number left to till it in general, or as it should be; this was the case during the seventy years' captivity in Babylon; [even] then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths;
or complete them, as Aben Ezra, which is a bitter sarcasm upon them for their neglect of observance of the law concerning the sabbatical years; but now the land should have its sabbaths of rest whether they would or not; and it seems as if it was on account of this sin, as well as others, that they were carried captive; and it is remarkable, if what Maimonides ^F24 says is right, that it was at the going out or end of a sabbatical year, that the first temple was destroyed, and the Jews carried captive, and endured a seventy years' captivity; which some say was because they had neglected seventy sabbatical years; see ( 2 Chronicles 36:21 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 Hilchot Shemitah Vejobel, c. 10. sect. 3.

Leviticus 26:34 In-Context

32 I will bring the land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it.

33 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you; your land shall be desolate and your cities waste.

34 Then the land shall enjoy its sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies' land; then the land shall rest and enjoy its sabbaths.

35 As long as it lies desolate it shall rest-- for the time it did not rest on your sabbaths when you dwelt in it.

36 'And as for those of you who are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; the sound of a shaken leaf shall cause them to flee; they shall flee as though fleeing from a sword, and they shall fall when no one pursues.