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NASB | Leviticus 25:33 'What, therefore, belongs to the Levites may be redeemed and a house sale in the city of this possession reverts in the jubilee, for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the sons of Israel. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Leviticus 25:33 'Therefore, what is [purchased] from the Levites may be redeemed [by a Levite], and the house that was sold in the city they possess reverts in the Year of Jubilee, for the houses in the Levite cities are their [ancestral] property among the Israelites. |
Subject: Year of Jubilee possible in capitalism? |
Bible Note: In Deuteronomy 15:1-3, the 7th year is assigned as the peroid at which all the liabilities of a Jew were suspended (or possibly, as Josephus supposes, entirely cancelled); this provision was to be of universal operation. In Deut. 15:12-18, the law is repeated in Ex. 21 with regard to the emancipation of slaves; here again prescribes that the Law is to be read every 7th year (the 'year of release') at the Feast of Tabernacles (cf. Nehemiah 8:13-18). Nothing is said in Deuteronomy about a possible resumption of land.. We would especially enjoy this 'Sabbatical benefit'! If all of our debts where cancelled after seven years, then credit card companies would become bankrupt! Not only that, but it would spell an abrupt end to the Business world as we know it.. Actually, this proposal isn't sounding too bad after all! :) In God's sovereignty, He gave Israel the law in such a time when the technology was not so far advanced as it is today, and in this way God 'protected' the Israelites through His timing and the timing of the revelation of technology in that they would not have to worry so much about property, credit, debt, like we do today. Yes, we could enforce a 'sabbatical releasing of debt' in today's world, but not without retribution from large businesses and the other nations of the world at large.. This proves also that a "Year of Jubilee" would not be practical for our nation today.. Sources: "What Everyone Should Know About Economics and Prosperity" by James D. Gwartney, "Economics and God" by E.E. Tasker, Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible by Hendrickson, The Ryrie Expanded Edition Study Bible, The Complete Works of Josephus Good study on the "Sabbatical Year"! Nolan |