Topical Bible: Servants: Hired: To Partake of the Produce of the Land in the Sabbatical

◄ Servants: Hired: To Partake of the Produce of the Land in the Sabbatical ►

Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, the concept of servants, particularly hired servants, is intricately linked to the agricultural and social practices of ancient Israel. The Sabbatical Year, also known as the Shemitah, is a significant aspect of this relationship. According to the Mosaic Law, every seventh year was to be a year of rest for the land, during which it was not to be sown or harvested in the usual manner. This practice is outlined in several passages of the Torah, with specific instructions regarding the treatment of the land and the people during this time.

Biblical Foundation

The primary biblical reference for the Sabbatical Year is found in Leviticus 25:1-7. The passage details the commandment given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, instructing the Israelites to observe a year of rest for the land every seven years. During this year, the land was to lie fallow, and the people were to refrain from regular agricultural activities. The text states:

> "But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You are not to sow your field or prune your vineyard. You are not to reap the aftergrowth of your harvest or gather the grapes of your untended vines. It shall be a year of complete rest for the land." (Leviticus 25:4-5)

Provision for All

The Sabbatical Year was not only a time of rest for the land but also a period of provision for all inhabitants of the land, including hired servants. The produce that grew naturally during this year was available for everyone to partake in, emphasizing the communal and egalitarian nature of God's provision. Leviticus 25:6-7 further clarifies this:

> "Whatever the land yields during the Sabbath year will be food for you—for yourself, your manservant and maidservant, the hired hand and foreigner who stays with you, and for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. All its growth may serve as food." (Leviticus 25:6-7)

This directive ensured that hired servants, along with other members of the community, had access to the produce of the land. It reflects the broader biblical principle of care and provision for those who work within one's household or fields, regardless of their status.

Social and Theological Implications

The inclusion of hired servants in the consumption of the land's produce during the Sabbatical Year underscores the biblical emphasis on justice and compassion. It highlights the responsibility of landowners to ensure that those who labor for them are treated with dignity and provided for, even in times when regular economic activities are paused.

Theologically, the Sabbatical Year serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over the land and His provision for all His people. It is a time when the community is called to trust in God's abundance and to practice faith in His promises. By allowing the land to rest and sharing its produce with all, including hired servants, the Israelites were reminded of their dependence on God and their duty to care for one another.

Conclusion

The practice of allowing hired servants to partake of the produce of the land during the Sabbatical Year is a testament to the biblical values of rest, provision, and community. It reflects a divinely instituted rhythm of work and rest, ensuring that all members of society, regardless of their social or economic status, are cared for and sustained by the bounty of God's creation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 25:6
And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for you, and for your servant, and for your maid, and for your hired servant, and for your stranger that sojournes with you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook