How does Leviticus 25:28 align with the concept of the Year of Jubilee? Text Of Leviticus 25:28 “But if he cannot redeem the land for himself, it will remain under the control of the purchaser until the Year of Jubilee. Then it shall be released in the Jubilee, and he may return to his property.” Immediate Literary Context Leviticus 25 forms a single legal speech (vv. 1–55) delivered on Sinai, addressing sabbatical years (vv. 1–7), the Year of Jubilee (vv. 8–17), land redemption (vv. 18-34), and release of enslaved Israelites (vv. 35-55). Verse 28 sits in the land-redemption subsection (vv. 23-34), where the unchanging premise is stated: “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is Mine” (v. 23). Every provision that follows—including v. 28—explains how Israel must honor God’s ownership of the soil and the dignity of His covenant people. Summary Of The Year Of Jubilee (Lev 25:8-12) • A cycle of seven sabbatical years (7 × 7 = 49) is completed. • On the tenth day of the seventh month (Day of Atonement) of the fiftieth year, a ram’s horn (Heb. yōvēl) is sounded nationwide. • “You are to consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants” (v. 10). • Agricultural work ceases; what grows by itself is food for everyone. • Ancestral property returns to its original clan; Israelite bond-servants go free. Redemption Clause Leading To Verse 28 (Lev 25:25-27) 1. If a man becomes poor and sells some of his land, his nearest kinsman (gōʾēl) is to buy it back (v. 25). 2. If he later prospers, he may personally compute the years remaining until Jubilee and repay the difference (vv. 26-27). 3. Verse 28 addresses the last contingency: when neither self-redemption nor kinsman-redemption is possible. Alignment Of Verse 28 With The Jubilee Principle 1. Unbreakable Time-Limit. By tying the purchaser’s tenure strictly “until the Year of Jubilee,” v. 28 affirms that every land transfer in Israel is a lease, never a permanent alienation. 2. Guaranteed Restoration. “Then it shall be released … and he may return.” The verb “released” (שׁוּב, shûb) is the same root used in v. 10 for liberty. Jubilee is thus the divine safety-net that restores both land and owner. 3. Equality of Opportunity. Verse 28 prevents multi-generational disenfranchisement. The poorest family cannot lose its inheritance forever; structural poverty is restrained every half-century. 4. God-Centered Economics. Because “the land is Mine” (v. 23), every economic contract bows to divine override at Jubilee. Verse 28 is the practical enforcement clause. Theological Themes Reflected In Verse 28 • Covenant Faithfulness: God’s promise of a permanent inheritance to the tribes (Numbers 26; Joshua 13-22) is safeguarded. • Redemption Typology: The helpless owner is delivered apart from his own resources—a living analogy of salvific grace (cf. Psalm 49:7-9; Ephesians 2:8-9). • Sabbath Structure: Just as the seventh day renews the week and the seventh year renews the land, the fiftieth year renews society. • Eschatological Foreshadowing: Prophets use Jubilee imagery to depict the coming Messianic age (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-21). Social And Ethical Implications Verse 28 undergirds humane property law: – It curbs predatory accumulation and perpetual serfdom. – It embeds hope for families in generational debt. – It preaches stewardship, not ownership, of resources. Historical And Archaeological Parallels Ancient Near Eastern “clean-slate” decrees (e.g., Hammurabi, Ammisaduqa) occasionally cancelled debts, yet none match Leviticus’ regular 50-year rhythm or its theocentric motivation. Ostraca from Mesad Hashavyahu (7th cent. BC) reveal land-lease language congruent with Leviticus, indicating practical familiarity with time-limited transfers. Christological Fulfillment Jesus publicly applied Jubilee language to Himself: “He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives … to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19, quoting Isaiah 61). The Gospel’s redemptive release mirrors v. 28: what sinners cannot redeem by their own effort, Christ restores permanently at the appointed time (Galatians 4:4-5; 1 Peter 1:18-19). Practical Application Believers are reminded that: • All possessions are temporary stewardships under God. • Personal failure does not negate God’s capacity to restore. • The Church should mirror Jubilee compassion through generosity, debt relief, and advocacy for the vulnerable (Acts 4:32-35; 2 Corinthians 8-9). Conclusion Leviticus 25:28 is not an isolated regulation but the hinge that locks Israel’s land economy to the grand Jubilee vision. It guarantees restitution, dramatizes divine redemption, and anticipates the ultimate Jubilee accomplished in the resurrection of Christ, when every believer “returns to his property” in the renewed creation. |
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