23 The land shall not be sold forever: for the land [is mine;] 24 for ye [are] strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land, suffer it to be redeemed at the year of jubilee. 25 If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away [some] of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, 26 then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. And if a man have none to redeem it, and himself be able to redeem 27 it; Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, from the time of the sale to the jubilee, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his 28 possession. But if he be not able to restore [it] to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubilee and in the jubilee it shall go out of the buyer's hand without any redemption money, and he shall return unto his possession. 29 And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; [with30 in] a full year may he redeem it. And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that [is] in the walled city shall be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his generations: it shall not go out in the jubi31 lee. But the houses of the villages, the farm houses, which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country they may be redeemed, and they shall go out in the jubilee. 32 Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, [and] the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at 33 any time. And if a man purchase of the Levites, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in [the year of] jubilee: for the houses of the cities of the Levites [are] their possession among the children of Is34 rael. But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold; for it [is] their perpetual possession. 1. "L' REFLECTIONS. ET us be thankful for the joyful sound of the gospel. Jewish writers inform us, that when the jubilee was proclaimed by the sound of trumpets, there was a solemn cavalcade, especially of servants and those who had recovered their inheritance, crowned with flowers, &c. and this being the most joyful sound that ever was heard in ordinary among the Jews, it is used for the gospel, Psa. lxxxix. 15. and Luke iv. 19. which intimates to us, that the gospel provides for the remission of debts, redemption from servitude, and restoration to forfeited inheritances. The beginning of this year was fixed to the day VOL. I. Eee of atonement; which has a beautiful analogy to the connection there is between those great gospel privileges typified by it, and the atonement of Christ, as the foundation of our receiving them. Thanks be to God, that we hear this joyful sound, that the acceptable year of the Lord is preached to us! Blessed are the people that know this joyful sound; that believe these glad tidings; that joyfully embrace the gospel, and obey it from their heart: they shall be blessed in their present privileges; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance; enjoy God's favour and presence in this world, and then be removed to another and better to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for them. 2. Let us live up to the dignity of God's Israel. Once we were slaves, but now we are free; once we had forfeited all by sin, but now our inheritance is restored, and our debts are forgiven. Christ hath made us free, and given us the inheritance of children; and, if children, then are we heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Being thus made free, let us not become the servants of sin any more; let us not serve the world and the Besh again. Having been forgiven much, let us love much; and especially learn to forgive others, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven us. Let us live like God's children, and as the heirs of an eternal inheritance: ever remembering, that we are not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish; and therefore, glorify God with our bodies and spirits, which are his. 35 35 A CHAP. XXV. 35, to the end. Of compassion to servants and the poor. ND if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him : [yea, though he be] a stranger, a proselyte, or a sojourner; that he 36 may live with thee. Take thou no usury of him, or increase, any consideration or advantage for the loan of any thing: but 37 fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy 38 victuals for increase. I [am] the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, [and] to be your God. 39 And if thy brother [that dwelleth] by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as 40 a bond servant: [But] as an hired servant, [and] as a sojourner, to be used kindly, and as a brother, (v. 43, 46.) he shall be with thee, [and] shall serve thee unto the year of ju41 bilee And [then] shall he depart from thee, [both] he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, 42 and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. For they [are] my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt, members of my church, as well as yourselves, and therefore not to be treated like slaves: they shall not be 43 sold as bondmen; (Heb. with the sale of a bondman.) Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God. 44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have [shall be] of the heathen that are round about you; of 45 them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. Moreover, of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that [are] with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your pos46 session. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit [them for] a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour. 47 And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother [that dwelleth] by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger [or] sojourner by thee, or to the stock of 48 the stranger's family: After that he is sold he may be re49 deemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or [any] that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him, or if 50 he be able, he may redeem himself. And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubilee and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him: allowance shall be made for the time wherein he has served, proportionably to that which is given to an hired servant for so long service, 51 If [there be] yet many years [behind,] according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the 52 money that he was bought for, And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubilee, then he shall count with him, [and] according unto his years shall he give him again the 53 price of his redemption. [And] as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him : [and the other] shall not rule with 54 rigour over him in thy sight. And if he be not redeemed in these [years,] then he shall go out in the year of jubilee, 55 [both] he, and his children with him. For unto me the children of Israel [are] servants; they [are] my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God. FRO REFLECTION. ROM this part of the chapter we may learn tenderness and humanity to our servants; not requiring more work than their health and strength will bear; not making their lives a burden; but so ordering our affairs and commands, that their work may be pleasant, and cheerfully performed. We should provide for them the things that are convenient; give them sufficient wages, food, rest, liberty; and, above all, taking care of their best interests, remembering they are our brethren, and have souls to be saved. We should therefore give them time to serve God, and worship him; furnish them with good books, and exhort them to mind the one thing needful; ever remembering there is a Master in heaven, to whom both they and we are accountable. CHAP. XXVI. This chapter principally consists of promises to Israel, if obedient, and threatenings, if disobedient; except the two first verses, which are a repetition of some important precepts that were delivered before. 1 YE E shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, or pillar, neither shall ye set up [any] image of stone, or figured stone, in your land, to bow down unto it: for I [am] the LORD your God; as if he 2 had said, be sure to remember this. Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I [am] the LORD.* 3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, 4 and do them: Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field 5 shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely; you shall have such a plentiful harvest, that before you can have threshed out your corn the vintage shall come; and such a rich vintage, that before that be ended it shall be time to 6 sow your seed. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make [you] afraid and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land; ye shall have no sedition, no robbers, no wild beasts, And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before 8 you by the sword. And five of you shall chase an hundred, This is the great principle and support both of natural and revealed religion. and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword, they may invade you, but shall be disappointed; and a very few shall chase 9 and put to flight great multitudes. For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish 10 my covenant with you. And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new; ye shall have many inhabitants, and enough for them all; and shall bring out the old corn for want of room to put in the new, and give the old to the poor 11 and needy. And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you; I will cause my grace and favour, 12 my word and worship, to abide continually among you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, to protect, conduct, instruct, and comfort you, and ye shall be my peculiar people, 13 whom I will delight to bless and honour. I [am] the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright; have brought you into a state of liberty and security, am able to fulfil all my promises, and therefore have a right to expeet your trust and obedience. 14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these 15 commandments; And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if 18 you shall your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my 16 commandments, [but] that ye break my covenant: I also will do this unto you: I will even appoint over you terror, perpetual hurry and horror of spirit, the worst disease imaginable, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart, make you look thin and ghastly: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it, they shall break in upon you, and carry off your provisions while you ; have neither strength to resist them, nor to 17 labour for more. And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven, that is, many times more for your sins. 19 And I will break the pride of your power, your exceeding great strength, in which you pride yourselves; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass; destroy both 20 your force and the fruitfulness of your ground: And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their 21 fruits. And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon 22 you according to your sins. I will also send wild beasts among you which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your [high] |