- After we came into the Land, we would live off of it by farming. When
were we to refrain from doing that, and what were we commanded not to
do?
Every 7th year. We were to neither sow the field nor prune the
vineyard.
- What about produce that grew by itself? Were we allowed to gather it?
Why not?
No. Because this year was a sabbath unto the land and it was to have
complete rest.
- After each 49 years passed, we were to proclaim a what? When and how
were we to do it?
A jubilee year. We were to make the proclamation with a blast of the
horn on the 10th day of the 7th month (Yom Kippur).
- What were we commanded to do during that jubilee year?
We were to return to every man his former possession and return every
man to his family. All debts were forgiven.
- What did Hashem say our reward would be if we observed the jubilee
year properly?
The land would yield its fruit and we would eat until we had enough;
we would dwell in safety.
- If we were not allowed to sow or harvest during the sabbath year, how
were we to survive?
Hashem said that during the 6th year we would have such an abundance
that it would last us for 3 years until we could harvest another crop.
- If a person was forced to sell his property because of poverty, did
he have to wait until the jubilee year to redeem it? If no, how was it
done?
He could redeem it prior to the jubilee if he had the money or
someone would redeem it for him. There was a formula based on the yield
of the land and the selling price that determined how much he had to pay
to redeem his land.
- If a person were forced to sell his property, it would always be
redeemed during the jubilee year with one exception. What was that?
If he sold his property in a walled city.
- In the case where a person sold his house in a walled city, could he
ever redeem it?
Yes. He could redeem it within the first year.
- Were the Levites allowed to sell their houses and the fields of the
open land?
They could sell their homes that could be redeemed, but they could
not sell their fields.
- What is the special law about charging interest on a loan to a
brother?
Jews are not allowed to lend money to another Jew and charge
interest.
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