Leviticus 26:34

34 `Then doth the land enjoy its sabbaths -- all the days of the desolation, and ye in the land of your enemies -- then doth the land rest, and hath enjoyed 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 and I have made desolate the land, and your enemies, who are dwelling in it, have been astonished at it.

33 And you I scatter among nations, and have drawn out after you a sword, and your land hath been a desolation, and your cities are a waste.

34 `Then doth the land enjoy its sabbaths -- all the days of the desolation, and ye in the land of your enemies -- then doth the land rest, and hath enjoyed its sabbaths;

35 all the days of the desolation it resteth that which it hath not rested in your sabbaths in your dwelling on it.

36 `And those who are left of you -- I have also brought a faintness into their heart in the lands of their enemies, and the sound of a leaf driven away hath pursued them, and they have fled -- flight from a sword -- and they have fallen, and there is none pursuing.