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SOME STUDY GEMS:
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Study Gem : Jubilee
Leviticus 25 is about the Jubilee. The Hebrew word for Jubilee is very interesting – it is YOBEL H3104 – yôḇēl. It means ram’s horn!
Jubilee year also means ram’s horn. The first time this word is used is in Exodus 19:13 where YHWH meets Israel at Mount Sinia (1) and there was a long sound of the ram’s horn. Then we find this word here in Lev 25 (2), and then again in Joshua 6 where they are preparing to enter the Promised Land by blowing the ram’s horn (3). That is it, the only places where this specific word is used!
In Lev 25 verses 8-10 it says to count to the 49 years. In the 49th year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which is the 10th day of the 7th month, let the ram’s horn be heard all through the land. This is a special day for payment of sins and to proclaim release (freedom from debt/owe) to everyone living in the land. Then the 50th year is set apart and is a Jubilee.
In Lev 26 with the curses, in verse 43 it says if the people are taken captive and the land is abandoned, the land will still enjoy the Sabbaths. In 2 Chronicles 36:21 it talks about the 70 year exile of Israel to Babylon, “in order to fill the word of YHWH by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay waste she kept Sabbath, until seventy years were completed.”
In Amos 8:5-10 YHWH prophecies and talks about Israel complaining about when the Jubilee will end, so they can trade again, “When does the New Moon pass so that we sell grain, and the Sabbath so that we trade our wheat, to make the ĕphah small and the sheqel large, and to falsify the scales by deceit, to buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals, and sell the chaff of the wheat?”. Some say this reference to the “New Moon” or New Month is a Sabbath. However nowhere in Scripture do we have explicit commands for New Months to be a Sabbath, but we do know New Months days were celebrated (Numbers 10:10). For a waiting of “Sabbath” to be over, this New Moon makes sense to mark the beginning of the New Year – and then people can trade again after the 50th Year of Jubilee.
Reminders & Promises
Lev 25:14-16 – A Reminder, before, after and in the Jubilee year, do not take advantage of, oppress or exploit each other financially or with the crops.
Lev 25:17,18,19 – 21 YHWH promises that if they follow His Laws, they will be safe in the land and it will continue to yield fruit for the 3 years, which is the 6th year, the 7th year of Jubilee, the 8th year to still have the reward (because they couldn’t sow in year 7, but will work in year 8), and then the 9th year will be normal crops again.
Study Gem : Redeemer
In Leviticus 25:25 the word REDEEM is mentioned 3 times, “When your brother becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and his redeemer, a close relative comes to redeem it, then he shall redeem what his brother sold.”
The word REDEEM in Hebrew is GA’AL H1350 – gā’al, to deliver, a revenger, a redeemer. In this translation it mentions a “close relative”, and it might be in your translation too, but it is NOT in the original Hebrew. Rather it is someone close to you, and brother could be same tribe, not necessarily family.
This word Redeem is mentioned a lot in Lev 25, 27, Joshua, Ruth (where Boaz is her redeemer), Psalms, and Isaiah 43-47 “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name, you are Mine…. Thus said YHWH, Sovereign of Yisrael, and his Redeemer, YHWH of hosts, ‘I am the First and I am the Last, besides Me there is no Elohim. …I shall wipe out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I shall redeem you….”
Study Gem : Dedicating someone
Leviticus 27 talks about dedicating a child, or someone, or something to YHWH with an oath/vow. When you are making an oath to give this person/animal/house/land to YHWH, but you cannot physically give him/it or offer him/it, you give a certain amount in silver worth to finalize the oath you are making.
When you do want to make a vow to YHWH, make sure to be very clear on what oath you are making. Deuteronomy 23:22 says “When you make a vow to YHWH your Elohim, do not delay to pay it, for YHWH your Elohim is certainly requiring it of you, and it shall be sin in you. But when you abstain from vowing, it is not sin in you. That which has gone from your lips you shall guard and do, for you voluntarily vowed to YHWH your Elohim what you have promised with your mouth.”
In Judges 11 we have the story of Yiphtaḥ making a vow very quickly to YHWH and not being very specific, and he was very sorry about it. Verse 35 “I have given my word to YHWH, and I am unable to turn back”. Ecclesiastes 5:2 says “Do not be hasty with your mouth, and let not your heart hurry to bring forth a word before Elohim. For Elohim is in the heavens, and you on earth, therefore let your words be few.” And verse 4-5 “When you make a vow to Elohim, do not delay to pay it, for He takes no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you have vowed. It is better not to vow than to vow and not pay.”
Today we have a tradition where we dedicate our children to YHWH, which is a beautiful thing. But with our dedications, we are making some kind of promise or vow for that child, and we have to remember our promises and keep our side of the bargain.
We use the word Dedicate, but the Hebrew word used in this Scripture is QADOSH H6942 – qāḏaš, which means to be set-apart. To be different, everyone will know and recognize there is something different about this person or land or animal – it is not like the rest.
Study Gem : Tithes
Leviticus 27 says this about Tithes:
30 ‘And all the tithe of the land – of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree – belongs to YHWH. It is set-apart to YHWH.
31 ‘If a man indeed redeems any of his tithes, he adds one-fifth to it.
32 ‘And the entire tithe of the herd and of the flock, all that passes under the rod, the tenth one is set-apart to YHWH.
Nowhere in the Scriptures are Tithes mentioned as money, except where you want to use that specific animal or harvest, then you are allowed to, by redeeming that animal or harvest by adding another 20% in monetary value and giving it to the Levites. Tithing is always mentioned as the animals or the harvest, because that is what belongs to YHWH. Later in Scripture we will see other ways of how to give or use a tithe. In certain cases the tithes are given to the Levites, as they were not allowed to own any land or have any other income – this was how they were taken care of. In other cases the tithes are given back to the person to enjoy themselves for the Feasts. And then in another case the tithes are gathered every 3 years in one place, where all who are needy could come and be helped. (Deut 14)
IMPORTANT SCRIPTURES / PROPHECIES:
| Lev 24:1-9 – Levitical Priests duties – Instructions for the oil, incense, breads |
| Lev 24:10-23 – Death penalties – Cursing YHWHs’ Name, killing another person |
| Lev 24:1-9 – Levitical Priests duties – Instructions for the oil, incense, breads |
| Lev 24:10-23 – Death penalties – Cursing YHWHs’ Name, killing another person |
| Lev 25 – Jubilee/Sabbath Year – The land that YHWH gave to Israel is His land, is not to be sold, and the land will also observe a Sabbath, every 7 years. No sowing, pruning or reaping – but can eat from it for food (open for all, even animals). After the 7th Sabbath, the 50th year is called a Jubilee year, where all inhabitants are “released”/redeemed. |
| Lev 26:1 – No idols – Do not make idols or carved images or pillar, or stone images to worship |
| Lev 26:2 – Sabbath – Guard His Sabbaths and reverence His set-apart place |
| Lev 26:3-13 – Blessing Promise – IF you walk in His laws and guard His commands, THEN He will provide rain, the land will yield crop, have enough bread, peace in the land, not be afraid, no evil beasts, enemies shall fall. |
| Lev 26:14-46 – Curse Promise – IF anyone does not obey and reject the laws, THEN they will have sudden fears, diseases and inflammations, failing eyes, crops won’t yield, enemies enjoy their food, will be ruled over by their haters, will constantly be fleeing for no reason, their sins will be punished 7 times over. Their pride will be broken, strenght lost, plagues, wild beasts, numbers will dwindle, pestilence, no bread, people will steal from them, will not be satisfied. Anyone can anytime start to obey YHWH, but if they don’t, the curses will continue. They will eat their own sons and daughters, their high places will be destroyed and they will be loathed, cities in ruins. Verse 40 (has no IF, thus a prophecy) They will repend, and YHWH will remember His covenant. Verse 41 (NO IF, the Hebrew word is ‘av, which is AND THEREFOR) their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled. |
| Lev 27 – Dedication Vows – Making a vow that involves a person, animal, house or land |
