by Ptr. Art Calaguas
Shalom.
Israel has now been at war for over a year. It now fights on multiple fronts: against the remnants of Hamas in Gaza; Hamas and other terror groups in Judea and Samaria (West Bank); against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, against various Iran-sponsored Shiite militias in Syria and in Iraq, against the Houthis in Yemen; and Iran itself. This tiny democratic Jewish nation, in a 200-million sea of Arab, Iranian, Turkish and other Muslim peoples in the Middle East truly fights for its very life and existence. And by God’s grace it seems to be prevailing.
The world now currently awaits its response to the recent 2nd direct Iranian missile attack. We marvel at its military technological prowess in the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 active airborne threat-defense systems, but we should see the hand of God in these miracles of saving the Jewish people from death and mass destruction from the hundreds of explosive drones, cruise missiles and ballistic rockets directly launched against it from Iran last April 13; and from the 180 ballistic missiles last October 1. Add to this the many thousands of drones, missiles, rockets and mortar shells fired by Hezbollah at Israel since October 8, 2023 and one gets to truly see how God saves his people.
And let us not forget that 101 people, including elderly men, women and children (with more than 30 individuals already dead) are still held hostage by Hamas somewhere in Gaza where they have been in captivity for over a year. Let us continue to pray for the release of all the remaining hostages and for a just end to the wars against the Jewish nation. Let us continue to stand with Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9).
Last time, we saw in Leviticus 25:1-7 God’s instructions sanctifying and caring for the land promised; specifically in the observance of the Sabbath Year. We continue with the LORD’s stipulations regarding the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25:8-22. Verse 8 sets the context of the counting off of seven sevens (literally, sabbaths) of years, or 49 years. The next verse instructs the people to sound a blast of the trumpet (the שֹׁופָ֖ר “shofar”) on Yom Kippur (יוֹם כִּפּוּר), the Day of Atonement in all the land. It is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. This 2024, Israel observed Yom Kippur, sunset to sunset, last October 11-12. It comes on the 10th day after Yom Teruah/Rosh HaShanah (the Jewish New Year; now the year 5785).
The Hebrew verse of Leviticus 25:9 is given below (read right to left, top down) with the LORD instructing the Israelites about the observance of Yom Kippur throughout their land as a prelude to the observance of the Jubilee:
וְהַֽעֲבַרְתָּ֞ שֹׁופַ֤ר תְּרוּעָה֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִעִ֔י בֶּעָשֹׂ֖ור לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ בְּיֹום֙ הַכִּפֻּרִ֔ים תַּעֲבִ֥ירוּ שֹׁופָ֖ר בְּכָל־אַרְצְכֶֽם׃
The English Standard Version (ESV) translation is given below:
9Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land.
Here, the LORD sets up the timing of the proclamation for his people to observe the Jubilee year in the land they were going to possess. The Jubilee would follow the Day of Atonement after 49 years.
The next verse, Leviticus 25:10 is given below (read right to left, top down) with the LORD instructing the Israelites about the sanctification and observance of the Jubilee year on the 50th year:
וְקִדַּשְׁתֶּ֗ם אֵ֣ת שְׁנַ֤ת הַחֲמִשִּׁים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּקְרָאתֶ֥ם דְּרֹ֛ור בָּאָ֖רֶץ לְכָל־יֹשְׁבֶ֑יהָ יֹובֵ֥ל הִוא֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם וְשַׁבְתֶּ֗ם אִ֚ישׁ אֶל־אֲחֻזָּתֹ֔ו וְאִ֥ישׁ אֶל־מִשְׁפַּחְתֹּ֖ו תָּשֻֽׁבוּ׃
The English Standard Version (ESV) translation follows:
10And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.
The 50th year is specified for the observance of the Jubilee year. While יֹובֵ֥ל “yovel” (translated: Jubilee) literally means a ram or a ram’s horn, The Jewish Study Bible commentary says that it seems to have been derived from a Jewish term that means “sending forth, homebringing or simply liberation.” This can be seen in this verse where 2 aspects of the Jubilee year are highlighted. First is the proclamation of a liberty from debt or indentured servitude; and the second is the return of property/land back to its original owner. The IVP Bible Background Commentary – Old Testament notes that the intention was “a general release from debt, servitude and a return of all the land that had been mortgaged or sold (back) to the rightful owner.” The perpetual ownership of the land is in view. Moreover, as The Jewish Study Bible points out: the LORD is the only true owner of the land of Canaan, “the Israelites are mere leaseholders, tenants on the divine estate, and the holdings God has parceled out to them are inalienable.” The commentary further says that the Jubilee, as much as the Sabbath and the other designated feasts of the LORD is a theocentric “assertion of God’s exclusive proprietorship and dominion.” Later, it will be made clearer that the LORD as their God will take care of Israel in the land promised as their possession and inheritance. And the people are only to serve the LORD God.
Leviticus 25:11 prohibits the organized, widespread sowing and reaping of the fields during the Jubilee. The next verses 12-13 further reinforce its tight connection of the land/property (read right to left, top down):
כִּ֚י יֹובֵ֣ל הִ֔וא קֹ֖דֶשׁ תִּהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם מִן־הַ֨שָּׂדֶ֔ה תֹּאכְל֖וּ אֶת־תְּבוּאָתָֽהּ׃
בִּשְׁנַ֥ת הַיֹּובֵ֖ל הַזֹּ֑את תָּשֻׁ֕בוּ אִ֖ישׁ אֶל־אֲחֻזָּתֹֽו׃
The English Standard Version (ESV) translations follow:
12For it is a jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You may eat the produce of the field.
13“In this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property.
The Hebrew term for field שָׂדֶה “sadeh” is the same word we have seen many times now. Likewise, property is a translation of the Hebrew word אֲחֻזָּה “achuzzah.” It could also be rendered as possession or holding.
Leviticus 25:18-19 gives the LORD’s assurances to his people that they will be provided for in the land promised when they obey and follow the instructions given to them about the Jubilee practices (read right to left, top down):
וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֙ אֶת־חֻקֹּתַ֔י וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֥י תִּשְׁמְר֖וּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם אֹתָ֑ם וִֽישַׁבְתֶּ֥ם עַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ לָבֶֽטַח׃
וְנָתְנָ֤ה הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ פִּרְיָ֔הּ וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֖ם לָשֹׂ֑בַע וִֽישַׁבְתֶּ֥ם לָבֶ֖טַח עָלֶֽיהָ׃
The English Standard Version (ESV) translations are given below:
18“Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely.
19The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely.
The Hebrew word בֶֽטַח “betach” meaning security, may also mean safety.
We will continue next time.
God bless us all.