Wesley Corpus

Chapter XXV In token of his peculiar right to the land of Canaan, God in this chapter appoints, That every seventh year should be a year of rest, ver. 1 - 7. That every fiftieth year should be a year of jubilee, ver. 8 - 17. A peculiar blessing annext, ver. 18 - 22. The land sold may be redeemed: if not, it shall revert at the year of jubilee, only with some exceptions, ver. 23 - 34. Usury forbidden, ver. 35 - 38. Jewish servants to be released at the jubilee, ver. 39. but heathens might be retained, ver. 40 - 46. Of an Israelite that sold himself to a stranger, ver. 47 - 55. In mount Sinai - That is, near mount Sinai. So the Hebrew particle beth is sometimes used. So there is no need to disturb the history in this place. When ye come into the land - So as to be settled in it; for the time of the wars was not to be accounted, nor the time before Joshua's distribution of the land among them. Keep a sabbath - That is, enjoy rest and freedom from plowing, and tilling. Unto the Lord - In obedience and unto the honour of God. This was instituted, For the assertion of God's sovereign right to the land, in which the Israelites were but tenants at God's will. For the trial of their obedience. For the demonstration of his providence as well in general towards men, as especially towards his own people. To wean them from inordinate love, and pursuit of worldly advantages, and to inure them to depend upon God alone, and upon God's blessing for their subsistence. To put them in mind of that blessed and eternal rest provided for all good men. A sabbath of rest to the land - They were neither to do any work about it, nor expect any harvest from it. All yearly labours were to be intermitted in the seventh year, as much as daily labours on the seventh day. Of its own accord - From the grains that fell out of the ears the last reaping time. Thou shalt not reap - That is, as thy own peculiarly, but only so as others may reap it with thee, for present food. Undressed - Not cut off by thee, but suffered to grow for the use of the poor.