Topical Bible: The Feast of Jubilee was Specially Holy

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Feast of Jubilee, also known as the Year of Jubilee, is a significant event in the biblical calendar, deeply rooted in the laws given to the Israelites. It is primarily detailed in the Book of Leviticus and holds profound theological and social implications.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of the Jubilee is introduced in Leviticus 25:8-12 : "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 a Jubilee for you; each of you is to return to his property and to his clan. The fiftieth year will be a Jubilee for you; you are not to sow or reap what grows by itself or harvest the untended vines."

Theological Significance

The Jubilee year is a time of liberation and restoration, reflecting God's desire for justice and mercy. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over the land and His provision for His people. The Jubilee underscores the principle that the land ultimately belongs to God, and the Israelites are merely stewards of His creation. This is evident in Leviticus 25:23 : "The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine, and you are but foreigners and sojourners with Me."

Social and Economic Implications

The Jubilee year had profound social and economic implications for the Israelite community. It was a time when debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and ancestral lands were returned to their original families. This ensured that economic disparities did not become entrenched and that families had the opportunity to start anew. The Jubilee served as a societal reset, promoting equality and preventing the accumulation of wealth and power in the hands of a few.

Spiritual Lessons

The Jubilee year also carried spiritual lessons for the Israelites. It was a time of reflection and renewal, encouraging the people to trust in God's provision. By ceasing agricultural activities, the Israelites were reminded of their dependence on God for sustenance. This period of rest and reliance on divine provision is a powerful illustration of faith and obedience.

Christological Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the concept of Jubilee finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. In Luke 4:18-19 , Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue, declaring, "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." This proclamation echoes the themes of the Jubilee, as Jesus embodies the ultimate liberation from sin and spiritual bondage.

Conclusion

The Feast of Jubilee, with its rich theological, social, and spiritual dimensions, remains a powerful testament to God's justice, mercy, and provision. It serves as a profound reminder of the principles of restoration and renewal that are central to the biblical narrative.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 25:12
For it is the jubilee; it shall be holy to you: you shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Leviticus
... to the feast of unleavened bread; the feast of weeks ... a Sabbath rest, vv.1-7; (b)
the jubilee year, an ... It specially emphasizes the holiness of Jehovah; as has ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/leviticus.htm

The Worship of the Synagogue
... This was specially accomplished by the reading of the law. ... the year, beginning
immediately after the feast of Tabernacles ... and a-half years (half a Jubilee-period ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 17 the worship of.htm

A Pilgrimage to Rome
... Roman Campagna has left a specially delightful impression ... I repeated, "in honour
of your jubilee, will you ... The beautiful feast of Christmas dawned; still Jesus ...
/.../martin/the story of a soul/chapter vi a pilgrimage to.htm

a Pilgrimage to Rome
... Roman Campagna has left a specially delightful impression ... I repeated, "in honour
of your jubilee, will you ... The beautiful feast of Christmas dawned; still Jesus ...
//christianbookshelf.org/therese/story of a soul/chapter vi - a pilgrimage.htm

The Book of Jubilees
... the middle of the third month without specially naming the ... fourth week of the
thirty-fourth jubilee = 1645 AM ... the covenant of circumcision on the feast of First ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of jubilees.htm

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the ...
... reach the city and Temple in time for the feast. ... In both respects, then, this was
a specially vulnerable point ... to be restored in the Year of Jubilee; while an ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxi the cavils of.htm

Hymns, Festival and Occasional.
... of the sea, Let us join with the reapers in glad jubilee,". ... truly did appear To grace
a marriage feast O Lord ... The "Lo He Comes," here specially noted, is the ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter xiii hymns festival and.htm

Appendix ix. List of Old Testament Passages Messianically Applied ...
... R.21 to the spreading of the great feast before Israel ... Sit thou at My right hand'
is specially applied to ... the pledges which Tamar had, by the Holy Ghost, asked ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix ix list of old.htm

Book ii.
... For two things specially pain us: either the longing for those ... or in drink, or in
respect of a feast day or ... for which reason the number of the jubilee is sacred ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/book ii.htm

What Messiah did the Jews Expect?
... the seventy bullocks offered during the Feast of Tabernacles ... or end, of the
eighty-fifth Jubilee - with this ... up Isaac, and which had been specially created on ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v what messiah did.htm