Leviticus 25 grounds the law in the conviction that the land ultimately belongs to God and Israelites are His servants. Land sales therefore function more like time-limited transfers based on the years remaining until Jubilee.
Customs & Culture
Jubilee
The Jubilee legislation proclaimed liberty in the fiftieth year and addressed ancestral land, Israelite servitude, and the restoration of family holdings.
Primary Scripture
Historical and Cultural Background
Biblical Examples
The Jubilee law appears in Leviticus, while Isaiah's proclamation of liberty and Jesus' reading in Luke 4 echo themes of release and restoration.
Biblical Significance
Jubilee provides an important background for biblical language of liberty, restoration, redemption, and God's ownership of the land.
Common Misconceptions
There is limited evidence for how fully Jubilee was implemented historically, so descriptions of its social effects should distinguish legislation from demonstrated practice.
Historical Setting and Evidence
Culture: Israelite
Period: Exodus and Wilderness, Conquest and Judges, United Monarchy, Divided Monarchy, Kingdom of Judah
Evidence: Well Attested
Interpretive Importance: Major
The law itself is explicit; historical observance is debated.
Scripture References
Related Information
Sources
Leviticus 25; Isaiah 61; Luke 4