Topical Bible: Seed: Mosaic Laws Respecting: Not to be Sown During the Sabbatical Year

◄ Seed: Mosaic Laws Respecting: Not to be Sown During the Sabbatical Year ►

Topical Encyclopedia

In the Mosaic Law, the Israelites were given specific instructions regarding agricultural practices, particularly concerning the sowing of seed during the Sabbatical Year, also known as the Shemitah. This commandment is part of a broader set of laws that emphasize the importance of rest and reliance on God's provision.

The Sabbatical Year is introduced in the Book of Leviticus, where God commands the Israelites to observe a year of rest for the land every seventh year. Leviticus 25:3-4 states: "For six years you may sow your fields and prune your vineyards and gather their crops. 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."

This directive serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it is an act of obedience and trust in God's provision. By refraining from sowing seed and cultivating the land, the Israelites were to rely on the produce of the previous years and what the land would naturally yield. This practice underscores the belief that the land ultimately belongs to God, and the people are merely stewards of His creation.

Secondly, the Sabbatical Year provided a time of rest and rejuvenation for the land itself. Modern agricultural science recognizes the benefits of allowing land to lie fallow, as it can restore soil fertility and prevent depletion of nutrients. The Mosaic Law, therefore, reflects an understanding of sustainable agricultural practices that align with divine wisdom.

The prohibition against sowing seed during the Sabbatical Year also had social and economic implications. It was a time when debts were to be forgiven, and slaves were to be released, as outlined in Deuteronomy 15. This year of rest and release was intended to promote social equity and compassion within the community, reminding the Israelites of their own deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

The observance of the Sabbatical Year was a test of faith and obedience, as it required the Israelites to trust that God would provide for their needs despite the cessation of regular agricultural activities. Leviticus 25:20-22 addresses this concern: "Now you may wonder, ‘What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not sow or gather our produce?’ But I will send My blessing upon you in the sixth year, so that it will yield a crop sufficient for three years. While you are sowing in the eighth year, you will be eating from the previous harvest, until the ninth year’s harvest comes in."

The command not to sow seed during the Sabbatical Year is a profound reminder of the Israelites' dependence on God and His faithfulness to provide. It is a call to trust in His promises and to live in accordance with His statutes, recognizing that true sustenance and security come from Him alone.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 25:4,20
But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest to the land, a sabbath for the LORD: you shall neither sow your field, nor prune your vineyard.
Torrey's Topical Textbook