The Feast of the Sabbatical Year, also known as the Shemitah, is a biblically mandated year of rest for the land observed every seventh year. This practice is rooted in the Mosaic Law, as outlined in Leviticus 25:1-7, where the Israelites were commanded to let the land lie fallow and to forgive debts. The observance of the Sabbatical Year was a demonstration of trust in God's provision and a reminder of His sovereignty over the land and His people.

Biblical Foundation and Observance

The Sabbatical Year is first introduced in the Torah, where God instructs Moses on Mount Sinai: "Speak to the Israelites and say, 'When you enter the land I am giving you, the land itself must observe a Sabbath to the LORD. For six years you may sow your field and prune your vineyard and gather its 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'" (Leviticus 25:2-4).

During this year, the Israelites were to refrain from agricultural activities, allowing the land to rest. This practice was not only an agricultural principle but also a spiritual exercise, emphasizing reliance on God's provision. Additionally, the Sabbatical Year included the release of debts, as stated in Deuteronomy 15:1-2: "At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed."

Historical Context and Restoration

The observance of the Sabbatical Year was neglected during periods of Israel's history, particularly leading up to the Babylonian exile. The failure to observe the Sabbatical Year was one of the reasons cited for the exile, as the land was deprived of its rest (2 Chronicles 36:21). The seventy years of captivity in Babylon were seen as a period during which the land would enjoy its missed Sabbaths.

Following the return from exile, the restoration of the Sabbatical Year became a significant aspect of re-establishing the covenantal relationship with God. Nehemiah, a key leader in the post-exilic community, emphasized the importance of returning to the observance of the law, including the Sabbatical Year. Nehemiah 10:31 records the people's commitment: "When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. And every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts."

Theological Significance

The restoration of the Sabbatical Year after the captivity was a profound act of repentance and renewal. It signified a return to the foundational principles of trust in God's provision and the acknowledgment of His lordship over creation. The Sabbatical Year served as a reminder of God's deliverance and faithfulness, encouraging the Israelites to live in accordance with His statutes.

The observance of the Sabbatical Year also foreshadowed the ultimate rest found in Christ, who fulfills the law and offers spiritual rest to all who come to Him. As the writer of Hebrews states, "There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God; for whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His" (Hebrews 4:9-10).

In summary, the Feast of the Sabbatical Year, restored after the captivity, was a vital component of Israel's spiritual renewal and covenantal faithfulness. It underscored the principles of rest, reliance on divine provision, and the release of debts, pointing ultimately to the rest and redemption found in Jesus Christ.Nehemiah 10:31
And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... hand; and white raiment is afterwards restored to him. ... the same Passover, the same
Feast of Tabernacles ... In the seventh, the Sabbatical Year, all prisoners were ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm

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