Topical Bible: Land: Conveyance of, by Written Deeds and Other Forms

◄ Land: Conveyance of, by Written Deeds and Other Forms ►

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In biblical times, the conveyance of land was a significant transaction, often involving written deeds and other formalities to ensure the legitimacy and permanence of the transfer. The Bible provides several instances and guidelines regarding the transfer of land ownership, reflecting the cultural and legal practices of ancient Israel.

Written Deeds

The use of written deeds in land transactions is explicitly mentioned in the book of Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 32:9-12, the prophet Jeremiah describes the purchase of a field from his cousin Hanamel. The transaction is meticulously documented: "So I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and I weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver. I signed and sealed the deed, called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. Then I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy with its terms and conditions, as well as the open copy—and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard" . This passage highlights the importance of written documentation, witnesses, and the sealing of deeds to authenticate and formalize the transaction.

Other Forms of Conveyance

In addition to written deeds, other forms of conveyance were practiced, often involving symbolic acts or verbal agreements. The book of Ruth provides an example of a symbolic act in land transactions. In Ruth 4:7-8, the transfer of property is confirmed by the removal of a sandal: "Now in former times in Israel, concerning the redemption and exchange of property, to confirm any matter, a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party. This was a legally binding act in Israel. So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, 'Buy it for yourself.'" This act served as a public and binding confirmation of the transaction.

Inheritance and Family Rights

The conveyance of land was also closely tied to inheritance laws and family rights. The land was considered a divine gift and a perpetual inheritance for the tribes of Israel. As such, the transfer of land often involved considerations of family lineage and tribal affiliation. The daughters of Zelophehad, for example, successfully petitioned for the right to inherit their father's land in the absence of male heirs, as recorded in Numbers 27:1-11. This case set a precedent for inheritance rights and the conveyance of land within families.

Jubilee and Redemption

The concept of the Jubilee year, as outlined in Leviticus 25, further influenced land conveyance. Every fiftieth year, land was to be returned to its original family owners, preventing the permanent loss of ancestral inheritance. Leviticus 25:23-24 states, "The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine, and you are but foreigners and sojourners with Me. Thus for every piece of property you possess, you must provide for the redemption of the land" . This provision ensured that land remained within the family and tribal units, reflecting the theological understanding of land as a divine trust.

Legal and Social Implications

The conveyance of land in biblical times carried significant legal and social implications. It was not merely a financial transaction but a matter deeply intertwined with identity, heritage, and divine covenant. The formalities involved in land transactions, whether through written deeds, symbolic acts, or verbal agreements, underscored the gravity and sanctity of land ownership in the biblical worldview.

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Genesis 23:3-20
And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,
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Ruth 4:3-8,11
And he said to the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, sells a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:
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Jeremiah 32:9-14
And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
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Library

The Restoration of the Jews.
... forms and usages then common for the conveyance of landed ... which brought the inhabitants
of the land together from ... or prophecy which had been written by Jeremiah ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter ix the restoration of.htm

The Seven Trumpets.
... For the conveyance of this destructive engine, a frame or ... the sea, and one on the
land"attests the ... such extravagances, adhered to the written word, denounced ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the seven trumpets.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty --(Continued)
... so that the Nubians as far as the land of Pidit ... them was carried on in Egyptian,
and written on papyrus. ... from his suzerain, as charged with the conveyance of a ...
/.../chapter ithe eighteenth theban dynastycontinued.htm

A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification, by Faith in Jesus ...
... and brazen walls against the whole land' (Jeremiah 1 ... better thoughts of his own good
deeds, which are ... and eternal obligation, which were first written in men's ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a defence of the doctrine.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... "And God called the dry land Earth; and the ... of the men of old, before there was a
written word; for ... But whatever this mist did signify (in other men's judgment ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm