mh_parser/vol_split/3 - Leviticus/Chapter 25.xml

<div2 id="Lev.xxvi" n="xxvi" next="Lev.xxvii" prev="Lev.xxv" progress="61.76%" title="Chapter XXV">
<h2 id="Lev.xxvi-p0.1">L E V I T I C U S</h2>
<h3 id="Lev.xxvi-p0.2">CHAP. XXV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Lev.xxvi-p1">The law of this chapter concerns the lands and
estates of the Israelites in Canaan, the occupying and transferring
of which were to be under the divine direction, as well as the
management of religious worship; for, as the tabernacle was a holy
house, so Canaan was a holy land; and upon that account, as much as
any thing, it was the glory of all lands. In token of a peculiar
title which God had to this land, and a right to dispose of it, he
appointed, I. That every seventh year should be a year of rest from
occupying the land, a sabbatical year, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.1-Lev.25.7" parsed="|Lev|25|1|25|7" passage="Le 25:1-7">ver. 1-7</scripRef>. In this God expected from them
extraordinary instances of faith and obedience, and they might
expect from God extraordinary instances of power and goodness in
providing for them, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.18-Lev.25.22" parsed="|Lev|25|18|25|22" passage="Le 25:18-22">ver.
18-22</scripRef>. II. That every fiftieth year should be a year of
jubilee, that is, 1. A year of release of debts and mortgages, and
return to the possession of their alienated lands, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.8-Lev.25.17" parsed="|Lev|25|8|25|17" passage="Le 25:8-17">ver. 8-17</scripRef>. Particular directions
are given, (1.) Concerning the sale and redemption of lands,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.23-Lev.25.28" parsed="|Lev|25|23|25|28" passage="Le 25:23-28">ver. 23-28</scripRef>. (2.) Of
houses in cities and villages, with a proviso for Levite-cities,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.29-Lev.25.34" parsed="|Lev|25|29|25|34" passage="Le 25:29-34">ver. 29-34</scripRef>. 2. A year of
release of servants and bond-slaves. (1.) Here is inserted a law
for the kind usage of poor debtors, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.35-Lev.25.38" parsed="|Lev|25|35|25|38" passage="Le 25:35-38">ver. 35-38</scripRef>. (2.) Then comes the law for
the discharge of all Israelites that were sold for servants, in the
year of jubilee, if they were not redeemed before. [1.] If they
were sold to Israelites, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.39-Lev.25.46" parsed="|Lev|25|39|25|46" passage="Le 25:39-46">ver.
39-46</scripRef>. And, [2.] If sold to proselytes, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.47-Lev.25.55" parsed="|Lev|25|47|25|55" passage="Le 25:47-55">ver. 47-55</scripRef>. All these appointments
have something moral and of perpetual obligation in them, though in
the letter of them they were not only peculiar to the Jews, but to
them only while they were in Canaan.</p>
<scripCom id="Lev.xxvi-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25" parsed="|Lev|25|0|0|0" passage="Le 25" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.xxvi-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.1-Lev.25.7" parsed="|Lev|25|1|25|7" passage="Le 25:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.25.1-Lev.25.7">
<h4 id="Lev.xxvi-p1.11">The Sabbatical Year. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvi-p1.12">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xxvi-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvi-p2.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses in Mount Sinai, saying,   2 Speak unto the
children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land
which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvi-p2.2">Lord</span>.   3 Six years thou shalt sow
thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather
in the fruit thereof;   4 But in the seventh year shall be a
sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvi-p2.3">Lord</span>: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor
prune thy vineyard.   5 That which groweth of its own accord
of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of
thy vine undressed: <i>for</i> it is a year of rest unto the land.
  6 And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for
thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired
servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee,   7
And for thy cattle, and for the beast that <i>are</i> in thy land,
shall all the increase thereof be meat.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p3">The law of Moses laid a great deal of
stress upon the sabbath, the sanctification of which was the
earliest and most ancient of all divine institutions, designed for
the keeping up of the knowledge and worship of the Creator among
men; that law not only revived the observance of the weekly
sabbath, but, for the further advancement of the honour of them,
added the institution of a sabbatical year: <i>In the seventh year
shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.4" parsed="|Lev|25|4|0|0" passage="Le 25:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. And hence the Jews collect that
vulgar tradition that after the world has stood six thousand years
(a thousand years being to God as one day) it shall cease, and the
eternal sabbath shall succeed—a weak foundation on which to build
the fixing of that day and hour which it is God's prerogative to
know. This sabbatical year began in September, at the end of
harvest, the seventh month of their ecclesiastical year: and the
law was, 1. That at the seed-time, which immediately followed the
end of their in-gathering, they should sow no corn in their land,
and that they should not in the spring dress their vineyards, and
consequently that they should not expect either harvest or vintage
the next year. 2. That what their ground did produce of itself they
should not claim any property or use in, otherwise than from hand
to mouth, but leave it for the poor, servants, strangers, and
cattle, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.5-Lev.25.7" parsed="|Lev|25|5|25|7" passage="Le 25:5-7"><i>v.</i> 5-7</scripRef>. It
must be a sabbath of rest to the land; they must neither do any
work about it, nor expect any fruit from it; all annual labours
must be intermitted in the seventh year, as much as daily labours
on the seventh day. The Jews say they "began not to reckon for the
sabbatical year till they had completed the conquest of Canaan,
which was in the eighth year of Joshua; the seventh year after that
was the first sabbatical year, and so the fiftieth year was the
jubilee." This year there was to be a general release of debts
(<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.1-Deut.15.2" parsed="|Deut|15|1|15|2" passage="De 15:1,2">Deut. xv. 1, 2</scripRef>), and a
public reading of the law in the feast (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.31.10-Deut.31.11" parsed="|Deut|31|10|31|11" passage="De 31:10,11">Deut. xxxi. 10, 11</scripRef>), to make it the more
solemn. Now, (1.) God would hereby show them that he was their
landlord, and that they were tenants at will under him. Landlords
are wont to stipulate with their tenants when they shall break up
their ground, how long they shall till it, and when they shall let
it rest: God would thus give, grant, and convey, that good land to
them, under such provisos and limitations as should let them know
that they were not proprietors, but dependents on their Lord. (2.)
It was a kindness to their land to let it rest sometimes, and would
keep it <i>in heart</i> (as our husbandmen express it) for
posterity, whose satisfaction God would have them to consult, and
not to use the ground as if it were designed only for one age. (3.)
When they were thus for a whole year taken off from all country
business, they would have the more leisure to attend the exercises
of religion, and to get the knowledge of God and his law. (4.) They
were hereby taught to be charitable and generous, and not to
engross all to themselves, but to be willing that others should
share with them in the gifts of God's bounty, which the earth
brought forth of itself. (5.) They were brought to live in a
constant dependence upon the divine providence, finding that, as
man lives not by bread alone, so he has bread, not by his own
industry alone, but, if God pleases, by the word of blessing from
the mouth of God, without any care or pains of man, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Matt.4.4" parsed="|Matt|4|4|0|0" passage="Mt 4:4">Matt. iv. 4</scripRef>. (6.) They were reminded of
the easy life man lived in paradise, when he ate of every good
thing, not, as since, in the sweat of his face. Labour and toil
came in with sin. (7.) They were taught to consider how the poor
lived, that did neither sow nor reap, even by the blessing of God
upon a little. (8.) This year of rest typified the spiritual rest
which all believers enter into through Christ, our true Noah, who
giveth us comfort and rest <i>concerning our work, and the toil of
our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.5.29" parsed="|Gen|5|29|0|0" passage="Ge 5:29">Gen. v. 29</scripRef>. Through him we
are eased of the burden of worldly care and labour, both being
sanctified and sweetened to us, and we are enabled and encouraged
to live by faith. And, as the fruits of this sabbath of the land
were enjoyed in common, so the salvation wrought out by Christ is a
common salvation; and this sabbatical year seems to have been
revived in the Christian church, when the believers had <i>all
things common,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:Acts.2.44" parsed="|Acts|2|44|0|0" passage="Ac 2:44">Acts ii.
44</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xxvi-p3.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.8-Lev.25.22" parsed="|Lev|25|8|25|22" passage="Le 25:8-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.25.8-Lev.25.22">
<h4 id="Lev.xxvi-p3.9">Institution of the Jubilee; the Year of the
Jubilee. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvi-p3.10">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xxvi-p4">8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years
unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven
sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.   9
Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the
tenth <i>day</i> of the seventh month, in the day of atonement
shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.   10
And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty
throughout <i>all</i> the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it
shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his
possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.  
11 A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not
sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather
<i>the grapes</i> in it of thy vine undressed.   12 For it
<i>is</i> the jubilee; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the
increase thereof out of the field.   13 In the year of this
jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession.   14
And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest <i>ought</i>
of thy neighbour's hand, ye shall not oppress one another:  
15 According to the number of years after the jubilee thou shalt
buy of thy neighbour, <i>and</i> according unto the number of years
of the fruits he shall sell unto thee:   16 According to the
multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and
according to the fewness of years thou shalt diminish the price of
it: for <i>according</i> to the number <i>of the years</i> of the
fruits doth he sell unto thee.   17 Ye shall not therefore
oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I <i>am</i>
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvi-p4.1">Lord</span> your God.   18
Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do
them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety.   19 And the
land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell
therein in safety.   20 And if ye shall say, What shall we eat
the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our
increase:   21 Then I will command my blessing upon you in the
sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.  
22 And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat <i>yet</i> of old
fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat
<i>of</i> the old <i>store.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p5">Here is, I. The general institution of the
jubilee, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.8-Lev.25.22" parsed="|Lev|25|8|25|22" passage="Le 25:8-22"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>,
&amp;c.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p6">1. When it was to be observed: after
<i>seven sabbaths of years</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.8" parsed="|Lev|25|8|0|0" passage="Le 25:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), whether the forty-ninth or
fiftieth is a great question among learned men: that it should be
the seventh sabbatical year, that is, the forty-ninth (which by a
very common form of speech is called the fiftieth), seems to me
most probable, and is, I think, made pretty clear and the
objections removed by that learned chronologer Calvisius; but this
is not a place for arguing the question. Seven sabbaths of weeks
were reckoned from the passover to the feast of pentecost (or
fiftieth day, for so pentecost signifies), and so seven sabbaths of
years from one jubilee to another, and the seventh is called the
fiftieth; and all this honour is put upon the sevenths for the sake
of God's resting the seventh day from the work of creation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p7">2. How it was to be proclaimed, with sound
of trumpet in all parts of the country (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.5" parsed="|Lev|25|5|0|0" passage="Le 25:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), both to give notice to all
persons of it, and to express their joy and triumph in it; and the
word <i>jobel,</i> or <i>jubilee,</i> is supposed to signify some
particular sound of the trumpet distinguishable from any other; for
the trumpet that gives an uncertain sound is of little service,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.14.8" parsed="|1Cor|14|8|0|0" passage="1Co 14:8">1 Cor. xiv. 8</scripRef>. The trumpet
was sounded in the close of the day of atonement; thence the
jubilee commenced, and very fitly; when they had been humbling and
afflicting their souls for sin, then they were made to hear this
voice of <i>joy and gladness,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.11.8" parsed="|Ps|11|8|0|0" passage="Ps 11:8">Ps.
xi. 8</scripRef>. When their peace was made with God, then liberty
was proclaimed; for the removal of guilt is necessary to make way
for the entrance of all true comfort, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.5.1-Rom.5.2" parsed="|Rom|5|1|5|2" passage="Ro 5:1,2">Rom. v. 1, 2</scripRef>. In allusion to this solemn
proclamation of the jubilee, it was foretold concerning our Lord
Jesus that he should <i>preach the acceptable year of the Lord,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.61.2" parsed="|Isa|61|2|0|0" passage="Isa 61:2">Isa. lxi. 2</scripRef>. He sent his
apostles to proclaim it with the trumpet of the everlasting gospel,
which they were to preach to every creature. And it stands still
foretold that at the last day the trumpet shall sound, which shall
release the dead out of the bondage of the grave, and restore us to
our possessions.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p8">3. What was to be done in that year
extraordinary; besides the common rest of the land, which was
observed every sabbatical year (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.11-Lev.25.12" parsed="|Lev|25|11|25|12" passage="Le 25:11,12"><i>v.</i> 11, 12</scripRef>), and the release of
personal debts (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.2-Deut.15.3" parsed="|Deut|15|2|15|3" passage="De 15:2,3">Deut. xv. 2,
3</scripRef>), there was to be the legal restoration of every
Israelite to all the property, and all the liberty, which had been
alienated from him since the last jubilee; so that never was any
people so secured in their liberty and property (those glories of a
people) as Israel was. Effectual care was taken that while they
kept close to God these should not only not be taken from them by
the violence of others, but not thrown away by their own folly.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p9">(1.) The property which every man had in
his dividend of the land of Canaan could not be alienated any
longer than till the year of jubilee, and then he or his should
return to it, and have a title to it as undisputed, and the
possession of it as undisturbed, as ever (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.10 Bible:Lev.25.13" parsed="|Lev|25|10|0|0;|Lev|25|13|0|0" passage="Le 25:10,13"><i>v.</i> 10, 13</scripRef>): "<i>You shall return
every man to his possession;</i> so that if a man had sold or
mortgaged his estate, or any part of it, it should then return to
him or his heirs, free of all charge and encumbrance. Now this was
no wrong to the purchaser, because the year of jubilee was fixed,
and every man knew when it would come, and made his bargain
accordingly. By our law indeed, if lands be granted to a man and
his heirs, upon condition that he should never sell or alienate
them, the grant is good, but the condition is void and repugnant:
<i>Iniquum est ingenuis hominibus</i> (say the lawyers) <i>non esse
liberam rerum suarum alienationem—It is unjust to prevent free men
from alienating their own possessions.</i> Yet it is agreed in the
books that if the king grant lands to a man in fee upon condition
he shall not alienate, the condition is good. Now God would show
his people Israel that their land was his, and they were his
tenants; and therefore he ties them up that they shall not have
power to sell, but only to make leases for any term of years, not
going beyond the next jubilee. By this means it was provided, [1.]
That their genealogies should be carefully preserved, which would
be of use for clearing our Saviour's pedigree. [2.] That the
distinction of tribes should be kept up; for, though a man might
purchase lands in another tribe, yet he could not retain them
longer than till the year of jubilee, and then they would revert of
course. [3.] That none should grow exorbitantly rich, by laying
<i>house to house, and field to field</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.5.8" parsed="|Isa|5|8|0|0" passage="Isa 5:8">Isa. v. 8</scripRef>), but should rather apply themselves
to the cultivating of what they had than the enlarging of their
possessions. The wisdom of the Roman commonwealth sometimes
provided that no man should be master of above 500 acres. [4.] That
no family should be sunk and ruined, and condemned to perpetual
poverty. This particular care God took for the support of the
honour of that people, and the preserving, not only of that good
land to the nation in general, but of every man's share to his
family in particular, for a perpetual inheritance, that it might
the better typify that good part which shall <i>never be taken
away</i> from those that have it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p10">(2.) The liberty which every man was born
to, if it were sold or forfeited, should likewise return at the
year of jubilee: <i>You shall return every man to his family,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.10" parsed="|Lev|25|10|0|0" passage="Le 25:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. Those that
were sold into other families thereby became strangers to their
own; but in this year of redemption they were to return. This was
typical of our redemption by Christ from the slavery of sin and
Satan, and our restoration to the glorious liberty of the children
of God. Some compute that the very year in which Christ died was a
year of jubilee, and the last that ever was kept. But, however that
be, we are sure it is the Son that <i>makes us free,</i> and then
we are <i>free indeed.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p11">II. A law upon this occasion against
oppression in buying and selling of land; neither the buyer nor the
seller must overreach, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.14-Lev.25.17" parsed="|Lev|25|14|25|17" passage="Le 25:14-17"><i>v.</i>
14-17</scripRef>. In short, the buyer must not give less, nor the
seller take more, than the just value of the thing, considered as
necessarily returning at the year of jubilee. It must be settled
what the clear yearly value of the land was, and then how many
years' purchase it was worth till the year of jubilee. But they
must reckon only <i>the years of the fruits</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.15" parsed="|Lev|25|15|0|0" passage="Le 25:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), and therefore must discount
for the sabbatical years. It is easy to observe that the nearer the
jubilee was the less must the value of the land be. <i>According to
the fewness of the years thou shalt diminish the price.</i> But we
do not find it so easy practically to infer thence that the nearer
the world comes to its period the less value we should put upon the
things of it: because <i>the time is short,</i> and the <i>fashion
of the world passeth away,</i> let those that <i>buy be as though
they possessed not.</i> One would put little value on an old house,
that is ready to drop down. All bargains ought to be made by this
rule, <i>You shall not oppress one another,</i> nor take advantage
of one another's ignorance or necessity, <i>but thou shalt fear thy
God.</i> Note, The fear of God reigning in the heart would
effectually restrain us from doing any wrong to our neighbour in
word or deed; for, though man be not, God is <i>the avenger</i> of
those that <i>go beyond or defraud</i> their brethren, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.4.6" parsed="|1Thess|4|6|0|0" passage="1Th 4:6">1 Thess. iv. 6</scripRef>. Perhaps Nehemiah
refers to this very law (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.15" parsed="|Neh|5|15|0|0" passage="Ne 5:15"><i>ch.</i> v.
15</scripRef>), where he tells us that he did not oppress those he
had under his power, <i>because of the fear of God.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p12">III. Assurance given them that they should
be no losers, but great gainers, by observing these years of rest.
It is promised, 1. That they should be safe: <i>You shall dwell in
the land in safety,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.18" parsed="|Lev|25|18|0|0" passage="Le 25:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>, and again, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.19" parsed="|Lev|25|19|0|0" passage="Le 25:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. The word signifies both outward safety and inward
security and confidence of spirit, that they should be quiet both
from evil and from the fear of evil. 2. That they should be rich:
<i>You shall eat your fill.</i> Note, If we be careful to do our
duty, we may cheerfully trust God with our comfort. 3. That they
should not want food convenient that year in which they did neither
sow nor reap: <i>I will command my blessing in the sixth year, and
it shall bring forth fruit for three years,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.21" parsed="|Lev|25|21|0|0" passage="Le 25:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. This was, (1.) A standing
miracle, that, whereas at other times one year did but serve to
bring in another, the productions of the sixth year should serve to
bring in the ninth. Note, The blessing of God upon our provision
will make a little go a great way, and <i>satisfy</i> even <i>the
poor with bread,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.131.15" parsed="|Ps|131|15|0|0" passage="Ps 131:15">Ps. cxxxi.
15</scripRef>. (2.) A lasting memorial of the manna which was given
double on the sixth day for two days. (3.) It was intended for an
encouragement to all God's people, in all ages, to trust him in the
way of duty, and to cast their care upon him. There is nothing lost
by faith and self-denial in our obedience.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xxvi-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.23-Lev.25.38" parsed="|Lev|25|23|25|38" passage="Le 25:23-38" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.25.23-Lev.25.38">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xxvi-p13">23 The land shall not be sold for ever: for the
land <i>is</i> mine; for ye <i>are</i> strangers and sojourners
with me.   24 And in all the land of your possession ye shall
grant a redemption for the land.   25 If thy brother be waxen
poor, and hath sold away <i>some</i> of his possession, and if any
of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his
brother sold.   26 And if the man have none to redeem it, and
himself be able to redeem it;   27 Then let him count the
years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to
whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession.   28
But if he be not able to restore <i>it</i> to him, then that which
is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until
the year of jubilee: and in the jubilee it shall go out, and he
shall return unto his possession.   29 And if a man sell a
dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a
whole year after it is sold; <i>within</i> a full year may he
redeem it.   30 And if it be not redeemed within the space of
a full year, then the house that <i>is</i> in the walled city shall
be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his
generations: it shall not go out in the jubilee.   31 But the
houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be
counted as the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and
they shall go out in the jubilee.   32 Notwithstanding the
cities of the Levites, <i>and</i> the houses of the cities of their
possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.   33 And if a
man purchase of the Levites, then the house that was sold, and the
city of his possession, shall go out in <i>the year of</i> jubilee:
for the houses of the cities of the Levites <i>are</i> their
possession among the children of Israel.   34 But the field of
the suburbs of their cities may not be sold; for it <i>is</i> their
perpetual possession.   35 And if thy brother be waxen poor,
and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: <i>yea,
though he be</i> a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with
thee.   36 Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear
thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.   37 Thou shalt
not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for
increase.   38 I <i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvi-p13.1">Lord</span> your God, which brought you forth out of
the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, <i>and</i> to be
your God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p14">Here is, I. A law concerning the real
estates of the Israelites in the land of Canaan, and the
transferring of them. 1. No land should be sold for ever from the
family to whose lot it fell in the division of the land. And the
reason given is, <i>The land is mine, and you are strangers and
sojourners with me,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.23" parsed="|Lev|25|23|0|0" passage="Le 25:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>. (1.) God having a particular propriety in this land,
he would by this restraint keep them sensible of it. The
possessions of good people, who, having given up themselves to God,
have therewith given up all they have to him, are in a particular
manner at his disposal, and his disposal of them must be submitted
to. (2.) They being <i>strangers and sojourners with him</i> in
that land, and having his tabernacle among them, to alienate their
part of that land would be in effect to cut themselves off from
their fellowship and communion with God, of which that was a token
and symbol, for which reason Naboth would rather incur the wrath of
a king than part with the inheritance of his fathers, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.21.3" parsed="|1Kgs|21|3|0|0" passage="1Ki 21:3">1 Kings xxi. 3</scripRef>. 2. If a man was
constrained through poverty to sell his land for the subsistence of
his family, yet, if afterwards he was able, he might redeem it
before the year of jubilee (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.24 Bible:Lev.25.26 Bible:Lev.25.27" parsed="|Lev|25|24|0|0;|Lev|25|26|0|0;|Lev|25|27|0|0" passage="Le 25:24,26,27"><i>v.</i> 24, 26, 27</scripRef>), and the price
must be settled according to the number of years since the sale and
before the jubilee. 3. If the person himself was not able to redeem
it, his next kinsman might (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.25" parsed="|Lev|25|25|0|0" passage="Le 25:25"><i>v.</i>
25</scripRef>): <i>The redeemer thereof, he that is near unto him,
shall come and shall redeem,</i> so it might be read. The kinsman
is called <i>Goel,</i> the redeemer (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.5.8 Bible:Ruth.3.9" parsed="|Num|5|8|0|0;|Ruth|3|9|0|0" passage="Nu 5:8,Ru 3:9">Num. v. 8; Ruth iii. 9</scripRef>), to whom
belonged the right of redeeming the land. And this typified Christ,
who assumed our nature, that he might be our <i>kinsman,</i> bone
of our bone and flesh of our flesh, and, being the only kinsman we
have that is able to do it, to him belonged the right of
redemption. As for all our other kinsmen, their shoe must be
plucked off (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.6" osisRef="Bible:Ruth.4.6-Ruth.4.7" parsed="|Ruth|4|6|4|7" passage="Ru 4:6,7">Ruth iv. 6,
7</scripRef>); they cannot redeem. But Christ can and hath redeemed
the inheritance which we by sin had forfeited and alienated, and
made a new settlement of it upon all that by faith become allied to
him. We know that this <i>Redeemer liveth,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.7" osisRef="Bible:Job.19.25" parsed="|Job|19|25|0|0" passage="Job 19:25">Job xix. 25</scripRef>. And some make this duty of the
kinsman to signify the brotherly love that should be among
Christians, inclining them to recover those that are fallen, and to
restore them with the spirit of meekness. 4. If the land was not
redeemed before the year of jubilee, then it should return of
course to him that had sold or mortgaged it: <i>In the jubilee it
shall go out,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.28" parsed="|Lev|25|28|0|0" passage="Le 25:28"><i>v.</i>
28</scripRef>. This was a figure of the free grace of God towards
us in Christ, by which, and not by any price or merit of our own,
we are restored to the favour of God, and become entitled to
paradise, from which our first parents, and we in them, were
expelled for disobedience. 5. A difference was made between houses
in walled cities, and lands in the country, or houses in country
villages. Houses in walled cities were more the fruits of their own
industry than land in the country, which was the immediate gift of
God's bounty; and therefore, if a man sold a house in a city, he
might redeem it any time within a year after the sale, but
otherwise it was confirmed to the purchaser for ever, and should
not return, no, not at the year of the jubilee, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.29-Lev.25.30" parsed="|Lev|25|29|25|30" passage="Le 25:29,30"><i>v.</i> 29, 30</scripRef>. This provision was made
to encourage strangers and proselytes to come and settle among
them. Though they could not purchase land in Canaan to them and
their heirs, yet they might purchase houses in walled cities, which
would be most convenient for those who were supposed to live by
trade. But country houses could be disposed of no otherwise than as
lands might. 6. A clause is added in favour of the Levites, by way
of exception from these rules. (1.) Dwelling houses in the cities
of the Levites might be redeemed at any time, and, if not redeemed,
should revert in the year of jubilee (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.10" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.32-Lev.25.33" parsed="|Lev|25|32|25|33" passage="Le 25:32,33"><i>v.</i> 32, 33</scripRef>), because the Levites had
no other possessions than cities and their suburbs, and God would
show that the Levites were his peculiar care; and it was for the
interest of the public that they should not be impoverished, or
wormed out of their inheritances. (2.) The fields adjoining to
their cities (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.11" osisRef="Bible:Num.35.4-Num.35.5" parsed="|Num|35|4|35|5" passage="Nu 35:4,5">Num. xxxv. 4,
5</scripRef>) might not be sold at any time, for they belonged, not
to particular Levites, but to the city of the Levites, as a
corporation, who could not alienate without a wrong to their tribe;
therefore, if any of those fields were sold, the bargain was void,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.12" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.34" parsed="|Lev|25|34|0|0" passage="Le 25:34"><i>v.</i> 34</scripRef>. Even the
Egyptians took care to preserve the <i>land of the priests,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p14.13" osisRef="Bible:Gen.47.22" parsed="|Gen|47|22|0|0" passage="Ge 47:22">Gen. xlvii. 22</scripRef>. And there
is no less reason for the taking of the maintenance of the gospel
ministry under the special protection of Christian governments.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p15">II. A law for the relief of the poor, and
the tender usage of poor debtors, and these are of more general and
perpetual obligation than the former.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p16">1. The poor must be relieved, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.35" parsed="|Lev|25|35|0|0" passage="Le 25:35"><i>v.</i> 35</scripRef>. Here is, (1.) Our
brother's poverty and distress supposed: <i>If thy brother be waxen
poor;</i> not only thy brother by nation as a Jew, but thy brother
by nature as a man, for it follows, <i>though he be a stranger or a
sojourner.</i> All men are to be looked upon and treated as
brethren, for <i>we have all one Father,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Mal.2.10" parsed="|Mal|2|10|0|0" passage="Mal 2:10">Mal. ii. 10</scripRef>. Though he is poor, yet still he
is thy brother, and is to be loved and owned as a brother. Poverty
does not destroy the relation. Though a son of Abraham, yet he may
wax poor and fall into decay. Note, Poverty and decay are great
grievances, and very common: <i>The poor you have always with
you.</i> (2.) Our duty enjoined: <i>Thou shalt relieve him.</i> By
sympathy, pitying the poor; by service, doing for them; and by
supply, giving to them according to their necessity and thy
ability.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p17">2. Poor debtors must not be oppressed:
<i>If thy brother be waxen poor,</i> and have occasion to borrow
money of thee for the necessary support of his family, <i>take thou
no usury of him,</i> either for money or victuals, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.36-Lev.25.37" parsed="|Lev|25|36|25|37" passage="Le 25:36,37"><i>v.</i> 36, 37</scripRef>. And thus far
this law binds still, but could never be thought binding where
money is borrowed for purchase of lands, trade, or other
improvements; for there it is reasonable that the lender share with
the borrower in the profit. The law here is plainly intended for
the relief of the poor, to whom it is sometimes as great a charity
to lend freely as to give. Observe the arguments here used against
extortion. (1.) God patronizes the poor: "<i>Fear thy God,</i> who
will reckon with thee for all injuries done to the poor: thou
fearest not them, but fear him." (2.) Relieve the poor, <i>that
they may live with thee,</i> and some way or other they may be
serviceable to thee. The rich can as ill spare the hands of the
poor as the poor can the purses of the rich. (3.) The same argument
is used to enforce this precept that prefaces all the ten
commandments: <i>I am the Lord your God which brought you out of
Egypt,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.38" parsed="|Lev|25|38|0|0" passage="Le 25:38"><i>v.</i> 38</scripRef>.
Note, It becomes those that have received mercy to show mercy. If
God has been gracious to us, we ought not to be rigorous with our
brethren.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xxvi-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.39-Lev.25.55" parsed="|Lev|25|39|25|55" passage="Le 25:39-55" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.25.39-Lev.25.55">
<h4 id="Lev.xxvi-p17.4">Oppression of Brethren
Forbidden. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvi-p17.5">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xxvi-p18">39 And if thy brother <i>that dwelleth</i> by
thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel
him to serve as a bondservant:   40 <i>But</i> as an hired
servant, <i>and</i> as a sojourner, he shall be with thee,
<i>and</i> shall serve thee unto the year of jubilee:   41 And
<i>then</i> shall he depart from thee, <i>both</i> he and his
children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto
the possession of his fathers shall he return.   42 For they
<i>are</i> my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of
Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.   43 Thou shalt not
rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.   44 Both
thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, <i>shall
be</i> of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye
buy bondmen and bondmaids.   45 Moreover of the children of
the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and
of their families that <i>are</i> with you, which they begat in
your land: and they shall be your possession.   46 And ye
shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to
inherit <i>them for</i> a possession; they shall be your bondmen
for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall
not rule one over another with rigour.   47 And if a sojourner
or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother <i>that dwelleth</i>
by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger <i>or</i>
sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family:  
48 After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his
brethren may redeem him:   49 Either his uncle, or his uncle's
son, may redeem him, or <i>any</i> that is nigh of kin unto him of
his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.
  50 And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the
year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubilee: and the
price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years,
according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him.
  51 If <i>there be</i> yet many years <i>behind,</i>
according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption
out of the money that he was bought for.   52 And if there
remain but few years unto the year of jubilee, then he shall count
with him, <i>and</i> according unto his years shall he give him
again the price of his redemption.   53 <i>And</i> as a yearly
hired servant shall he be with him: <i>and the other</i> shall not
rule with rigour over him in thy sight.   54 And if he be not
redeemed in these <i>years,</i> then he shall go out in the year of
jubilee, <i>both</i> he, and his children with him.   55 For
unto me the children of Israel <i>are</i> servants; they <i>are</i>
my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I
<i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvi-p18.1">Lord</span> your God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p19">We have here the laws concerning servitude,
designed to preserve the honour of the Jewish nation as a free
people, and rescued by a divine power out of the house of bondage,
into the glorious liberty of God's sons, his first-born. Now the
law is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p20">I. That a native Israelite should never be
made a bondman for perpetuity. If he was sold for debt, or for a
crime, by the house of judgment, he was to serve but six years, and
to go out the seventh; this was appointed, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.21.2" parsed="|Exod|21|2|0|0" passage="Ex 21:2">Exod. xxi. 2</scripRef>. But if he sold himself through
extreme poverty, having nothing at all left him to preserve his
life, and if it was to one of his own nation that he sold himself,
in such a case it is here provided, 1. That he should not <i>serve
as a bond-servant</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.39" parsed="|Lev|25|39|0|0" passage="Le 25:39"><i>v.</i>
39</scripRef>), nor be <i>sold with the sale of a bondman</i>
(<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.42" parsed="|Lev|25|42|0|0" passage="Le 25:42"><i>v.</i> 42</scripRef>); that is,
"it must not be looked upon that his master that bought him had as
absolute a property in him as in a captive taken in war, that might
be used, sold, and bequeathed, at pleasure, as much as a man's
cattle; no, he shall serve thee as a <i>hired servant,</i> whom the
master has the use of only, but not a despotic power over." And the
reason is, <i>They are my servants,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.42" parsed="|Lev|25|42|0|0" passage="Le 25:42"><i>v.</i> 42</scripRef>. God does not make his servants
slaves, and therefore their brethren must not. God had redeemed
them out of Egypt, and therefore they must never be exposed to sale
as bondmen. The apostle applies this spiritually (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.7.23" parsed="|1Cor|7|23|0|0" passage="1Co 7:23">1 Cor. vii. 23</scripRef>), <i>You are bought
with a price, be not the servants of men,</i> that is, "of the
lusts of men, no, nor of your own lusts;" for, having <i>become the
servants of God,</i> we must not <i>let sin reign in our mortal
bodies,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p20.6" osisRef="Bible:Rom.6.12 Bible:Rom.6.22" parsed="|Rom|6|12|0|0;|Rom|6|22|0|0" passage="Ro 6:12,22">Rom. vi. 12,
22</scripRef>. 2. That while he did serve he should not be ruled
with rigour, as the Israelites were in Egypt, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p20.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.43" parsed="|Lev|25|43|0|0" passage="Le 25:43"><i>v.</i> 43</scripRef>. Both his work and his usage
must be such as were fitting for a son of Abraham. Masters are
still required to <i>give to their servants that which is just and
equal,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p20.8" osisRef="Bible:Col.4.1" parsed="|Col|4|1|0|0" passage="Col 4:1">Col. iv. 1</scripRef>. They
may be used, but must not be abused. Those masters that are always
hectoring and domineering over their servants, taunting them and
trampling upon them, that are unreasonable in exacting work and
giving rebukes, and that rule them with a high hand, forget that
their Master is in heaven; and what will they do when he rises up?
as holy Job reasons with himself, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p20.9" osisRef="Bible:Job.31.13-Job.31.14" parsed="|Job|31|13|31|14" passage="Job 31:13,14">Job xxxi. 13, 14</scripRef>. 3. That at the year of
jubilee he should <i>go out free,</i> he <i>and his children,</i>
and should <i>return to his own family,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p20.10" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.41" parsed="|Lev|25|41|0|0" passage="Le 25:41"><i>v.</i> 41</scripRef>. This typified our redemption
from the service of sin and Satan by the grace of God in Christ,
whose <i>truth makes us free,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p20.11" osisRef="Bible:John.7.32" parsed="|John|7|32|0|0" passage="Joh 7:32">John
vii. 32</scripRef>. The Jewish writers say that, for ten days
before the jubilee-trumpet sounded, the servants that were to be
discharged by it did express their great joy by feasting, and
wearing garlands on their heads: it is therefore called the
<i>joyful sound,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p20.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.89.15" parsed="|Ps|89|15|0|0" passage="Ps 89:15">Ps. lxxxix.
15</scripRef>. And we are thus to rejoice in the liberty we have by
Christ.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p21">II. That they might purchase bondmen of the
heathen nations that were round about them, or of those strangers
that sojourned among them (except of those seven nations that were
to be destroyed); and might claim a dominion over them, and entail
them upon their families as an inheritance, for the year of jubilee
should give no discharge to them, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.44 Bible:Lev.25.46" parsed="|Lev|25|44|0|0;|Lev|25|46|0|0" passage="Le 25:44,46"><i>v.</i> 44, 46</scripRef>. Thus in our English
plantations the <i>negroes</i> only are used as slaves; how much to
the credit of Christianity I shall not say. Now, 1. This authority
which they had over the bondmen whom they purchased from the
neighbouring nations was in pursuance of the blessing of Jacob,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.29" parsed="|Gen|27|29|0|0" passage="Ge 27:29">Gen. xxvii. 29</scripRef>, <i>Let
people serve thee.</i> 2. It prefigured the bringing in of the
Gentiles to the service of Christ and his church. <i>Ask of me, and
I will give thee the heathen for thy inheritance,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.8" parsed="|Ps|2|8|0|0" passage="Ps 2:8">Ps. ii. 8</scripRef>. And it is promised
(<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.61.5" parsed="|Isa|61|5|0|0" passage="Isa 61:5">Isa. lxi. 5</scripRef>), <i>Strangers
shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall
be your vine-dressers;</i> see <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.2.26-Rev.2.27" parsed="|Rev|2|26|2|27" passage="Re 2:26,27">Rev.
ii. 26, 27</scripRef>. <i>The upright shall have the dominion in
the morning,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.49.14" parsed="|Ps|49|14|0|0" passage="Ps 49:14">Ps. xlix.
14</scripRef>. 3. It intimates that none shall have the benefit of
the gospel jubilee but those only that are Israelites indeed, and
the children of Abraham by faith: as for those that continue
heathenish, they continue bondmen. See this turned upon the
unbelieving Jews themselves, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p21.7" osisRef="Bible:Gal.4.25" parsed="|Gal|4|25|0|0" passage="Ga 4:25">Gal. iv.
25</scripRef>, where Jerusalem, when she had rejected Christ, is
said to be <i>in bondage with her children.</i> Let me only add
here that, though they are not forbidden to rule their bondmen with
rigour, yet the Jewish doctors say, "It is the property of mercy,
and way of wisdom, that a man should be compassionate, and not make
his yoke heavy upon any servant that he has."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvi-p22">III. That if an Israelite sold himself for
a servant to a wealthy proselyte that sojourned among them care
should be taken that he should have the same advantages as if he
had sold himself to an Israelite, and in some respects greater. 1.
That he should not serve as a bondman, but as a hired servant, and
not to be <i>ruled with rigour</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.53" parsed="|Lev|25|53|0|0" passage="Le 25:53"><i>v.</i> 53</scripRef>), <i>in thy sight,</i> which
intimated that the Jewish magistrates should particularly have an
eye to him, and, if he were abused, should take cognizance of it,
and redress his grievances, though the injured servant did not
himself complain. Also he was to go free at the year of jubilee,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.54" parsed="|Lev|25|54|0|0" passage="Le 25:54"><i>v.</i> 54</scripRef>. Though the
sons of strangers might serve them for ever, yet the sons of Israel
might not serve strangers for ever; yet the servant here, having
made himself a slave by his own act and deed, should not go out in
the seventh year of release, but in the jubilee only. 2. That he
should have this further advantage that he might be redeemed again
before the year of jubilee, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.48-Lev.25.49" parsed="|Lev|25|48|25|49" passage="Le 25:48,49"><i>v.</i> 48, 49</scripRef>. He that had sold himself
to an Israelite might, if ever he was able, redeem himself, but his
relations had no right to redeem him. "But if a man sold himself to
a stranger," the Jews say, "his relations were urged to redeem him;
if they did not, it was fit that he should be redeemed at the
public charge," which we find done, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p22.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.8" parsed="|Neh|5|8|0|0" passage="Ne 5:8">Neh.
v. 8</scripRef>. The price of his ransom was to be computed
according to the prospect of the year of jubilee (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p22.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.50-Lev.25.52" parsed="|Lev|25|50|25|52" passage="Le 25:50-52"><i>v.</i> 50-52</scripRef>), as in the
redemption of land, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p22.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.15-Lev.25.16" parsed="|Lev|25|15|25|16" passage="Le 25:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15,
16</scripRef>. The learned bishop Patrick quotes one of the Jewish
rabbin for an evangelical exposition of that appointment (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvi-p22.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.48" parsed="|Lev|25|48|0|0" passage="Le 25:48"><i>v.</i> 48</scripRef>), <i>One of his brethren
shall redeem him.</i> "This Redeemer," says the rabbi, "<i>is the
Messiah, the Son of David.</i>" They expected this Messiah to be
their Redeemer out of their captivity, and to restore them to their
own land again; but we welcome him as the Redeemer who shall come
to Zion, and shall <i>turn away ungodliness from Jacob,</i> for he
shall <i>save his people from their sins;</i> and under this notion
there were those that <i>looked for redemption in
Jerusalem.</i></p>
</div></div2>