*Omitted (should not have been added to the Laws)
**Changed (a misinterpretation of the Law or based on the wrong scripture)
***No Longer Kept (No longer applicable today)
**/***Law #279 To rest the land during the seventh year by
not doing any work which enhances growth
Ex. 34:21 “Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day
thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.”
This script refers to the Sabbath day. The command regarding the land is found in
Lev. 25:4. Maimonides reference should
be changed. Lev. 25:4 reads, “But in the
seventh year shall be a Sabbath of rest unto the land…” Nonetheless, any Law pertaining to the
keeping of the land in Israel is no longer applicable to scattered Israel
today.
Sabbical Year (Shmia
“release”)
The seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle
mandated by the Torah for the land of Israel.
In this year, all agricultural activity is forbidden as to not improve
the growth of trees and plants. (Lev. 25:4)
***Law #280 Not to work the land during the seventh year
Lev. 25:4 “But in the seventh year shall be a Sabbath of
rest unto the land…”
According to Maimonides, The Command here is not to work the
land.
***Law #281 Not to work with trees to produce fruit during
that year
Lev. 25:4 “But in the seventh year shall be a Sabbath of
rest unto the land…”
According to Maimonides, The Command here is not to work the
trees.
***Law #282 Not to reap crops that grow wild that year in
the normal manner
Lev. 25:5 “That which growth of its own accord of thy
harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed:
for it is a year of rest unto the land.”
According to Maimonides, the Command here is not to reap
what grows on its own. It says not to
reap or gather. Again, a Law that can no
longer be kept outside of the land.
***Law #283 Not to
gather grapes which grow wild that year in the normal way
Lev. 25:5 “That which growth of its own accord of thy
harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed:
for it is a year of rest unto the land.”
These two Laws distinguish between the crops of the field
and the vineyards.
***Law #284 To leave free all produce which grew in that
year
Ex. 23:11 “But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and
lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat…”
So, Law #280 commands not to tend the land in the seventh
year. Law #282 commands not to reap or
gather from the land in the seventh year.
This Law commands that whatever grows freely on its own in the seventh
year is free for the needy. Although
these Laws pertaining to the land can no longer be kept, it’s interesting to
see how the Israelites so diligently kept them in obedience when they were in
the land.
Forgiving Debts After
Seven Years
***Law #285 To release all loans during the seventh year
Deut. 15:2 “And this is the manner of the release: Every
creditor that lends to his neighbor shall release it: he shall not exact it of
his neighbor, or his brother, because it is called the Lord’s release.”
This Command is called “The Lord’s Release.” The Command is that after seven years, all
creditors shall forgive the debt.
***Law #286 Not to pressure or claim from the borrower
Deut. 15:2 “And this is the manner of the release: Every
creditor that lends to his neighbor shall release it: he shall not exact it of
his neighbor, or his brother, because it is called the Lord’s release.”
An extension of #285, not only are loans and debts forgiven
in the seventh year, there’s a Command not to pressure the debtor for the debt.
***Law #287 Not to refrain from lending immediately before
the release of the loans for fear of monetary loss
Deut. 15:9 “Beware that there be not a though in thy wicked
heart, saying, The seventh year…is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy
poor brother…”
Vs. 10 “Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall
not be grieved when thou givest unto him…”
An extension of #285, the Command to forgive debts every
seven years shall not prohibit lenders from lending or prohibit people from
helping others monetarily for fear of monetary loss.
Year of Jubilee
The Jubilee year is the year at the end of seven cycles of
seven years in the land of Israel. It
deals with land, property and property rights.
In this year slaves and prisoners were to be freed, forgiven (as in the
Sabbath years) and the Most High’s mercy would manifest. The 50th year is the year of
Jubilee, after the end of the final Sabbath year (Lev. 25:8,11)
7 years equates 1st cycle
14 years equates 2nd cycle
21 years equates 3rd cycle
28 years equates 4th cycle
35 years equates 5th cycle
42 years equates 6th cycle
49 years equates 7th cycle
50th year is Year of Jubilee (Lev. 25:10)
***Law #288 The Sanhedrin must count seven groups of seven
years
Lev. 25:8 “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.”
The Command here is to count the years to keep track not
only of the seven Sabbatical year but the Year of Jubilee which comes once in a
lifetime in today’s context, of course they lived much longer in their day.
***Law #289 The Sanhedrin must sanctify must sanctify the
fiftieth year & ***Law #290 To blow the shofar on the tenth of Tishrei to
free the slaves
Lev. 25:9-10 “Then thou shalt cause the trumpet of the
jubilee to sound on the tenth day 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 all 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.”
The 50th year is to be sanctified (289) and we’re
commanded to blow the trumpet throughout the land and release all slaves (290).
Although not in the land, Jews can continue to honor and celebrate the Most
High’s days, Feasts and Sabbaths, including the Year of Jubilee.
***Law #291 Not to work the soil during the fiftieth year
Lev. 25:11 “A Jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you…”
Like in the Sabbatical year (Law #279), we’re commanded not
to tend to the land in Israel in the 50th year of Jubilee. Because
the true Jews are not in the land, this is a law that can no longer be kept.
***Law #292 Not to reap in the normal manner that which
grows wild in the fiftieth year
Lev. 25:11 “(In the 50th year of Jubilee)…ye
shall not sow, neither reap that which growth of itself in it, nor gather the
grapes in it of thy vine undressed.”
The command is not to reap from the land in the 50th
year of Jubilee. Because the true Jews
are not in the land, this is a law that can no longer be kept outside of the
land.
***Law #293 Not to pick grapes which grow wild in the normal
manner in the fiftieth year
Lev. 25:11 “(In the 50th year of Jubilee)…ye
shall not sow, neither reap that which growth of itself in it, nor gather the
grapes in it of thy vine undressed.”
***Law #294 Carry out the Laws of sold family properties
Lev. 25:24 “And in all the land of your possession ye shall
grant a redemption for the land.”
***Law #295 Not to sell the land in Israel indefinitely
Lev. 25:23 “The land shall not be sold forever: for the land
is mine: for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.”
***Law #296 Carry out the Laws of houses in walled cities
Lev. 25:29 “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; within a full
year may he redeem it.”
These 3 Laws pertain to how to sell family property in
Israel but because the true Jews are scattered it is no longer a Law that can
be kept outside of the land.
***Law #297 The Tribe of Levi must not be given a portion of
the land in Israel, rather they are given cities to dwell in & ***Law #298 The
Levites must not take a share in the spoils of war
Deut. 18:1 “The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of
Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the
offerings of the Lord made by fire, and his inheritance.”
These two Laws pertain to the Levite’s lack of an
inheritance. They were not to be given land.
These Laws no longer pertain to scattered Israel.
***Law #299 To give the Levites cities to inhabit and their
surrounding fields
Num. 35:2 “Command the children of Israel, that they give
unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and
ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.”
***Law #300 Not to sell the field but they shall remain the
Levites’ before and after the Jubilee year
Lev. 25:34 “…But the field of the suburbs of their cities
may not be sold; for it is their perpetual possession.”
These commands were for the Levites to be given cities and
suburbs to dwell in but not to sell.
These Laws no longer pertain to a scattered Israel.
These commands were for the Levites to be given cities and suburbs to dwell in but not to sell. These Laws no longer pertain to a scattered Israel.
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