Topical Bible: The Feast of Jubilee: Sale of Property Calculated From

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Feast of Jubilee, also known simply as the Jubilee, is a significant event in the biblical calendar, occurring every fiftieth year. It is a time of liberation and restoration, deeply rooted in the laws given to the Israelites. The Jubilee is primarily detailed in Leviticus 25, where it is established as a year of release and freedom, impacting the sale and ownership of property.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of the Jubilee is introduced in Leviticus 25:8-10 : "You are to count off seven sabbaths of years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to forty-nine years. Then you shall sound the ram’s horn abroad on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall sound the horn throughout your land. So you are to consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be your Jubilee, when each of you is to return to his property and to his clan."

Sale of Property

The Jubilee has profound implications for the sale and ownership of land. According to Leviticus 25:23-24 , "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 underscores the belief that the land ultimately belongs to God, and the Israelites are merely stewards.

The sale of property is to be calculated with the Jubilee in mind. Leviticus 25:15-16 instructs, "You are to buy from your neighbor based on the number of years since the Jubilee; he is to sell to you based on the number of years remaining for the harvests. You shall increase the price if there are many years, but decrease it if there are few, because he is selling to you a number of harvests." This regulation ensures that the price of land reflects the number of productive years remaining until the next Jubilee, when the land would revert to its original owner.

Redemption and Restoration

The Jubilee serves as a mechanism for economic and social reset. It provides an opportunity for families who have fallen into poverty to reclaim their ancestral lands. Leviticus 25:28 states, "But if he cannot obtain enough to repay him, what he sold will remain in the hands of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. It will be returned in the Jubilee, and he can return to his property."

This system of redemption and restoration is a reflection of divine justice and mercy, ensuring that no family is permanently dispossessed of their inheritance. It emphasizes the importance of community and the equitable distribution of resources, as well as the recognition of God's ultimate sovereignty over the land.

Theological Significance

The Jubilee is a profound expression of God's desire for freedom, justice, and restoration. It is a reminder of the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt and their covenant relationship with God. The principles of the Jubilee resonate with themes of forgiveness, grace, and the hope of ultimate redemption, which are central to the biblical narrative.

In the New Testament, the concept of the Jubilee finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who proclaimed "the year of the Lord’s favor" (Luke 4:19), symbolizing spiritual liberation and the restoration of all things.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 25:15,16
According to the number of years after the jubilee you shall buy of your neighbor, and according to the number of years of the fruits he shall sell to you:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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Memoir of John Bunyan
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