Bible Challenge Day 46: Jubilee (Leviticus 25)

As we come to the end of Leviticus, the thing that struck me was the year of Jubilee. On a purely personal note, I turn fifty this year. Aging has not generally bothered me. But I really like the idea of thinking of my fiftieth year as my very own Jubilee—a time when past mistakes can be rectified as well as a time of rest and reconnection to family. It makes aging sound much better!

But the year of Jubilee is also an interesting challenge to our normal way of understanding private property. People mostly think of our property as ours to do with as we will. But not Leviticus. Every fiftieth year, all debts are to be forgiven, real property reverts to its original owner, and slaves go free. Leviticus wrestles a bit with what this might mean for economic exchanges—property is devalued as the Jubilee year approaches since the sale is temporary and increasingly short-term.

In case we miss the point, Leviticus is explicit: we do not actually own the land. Rather, “the land is mine,” says God; “with me you are but aliens and tenants” (25:23). We say that in stewardship campaigns every year. But the year of Jubilee legislates it!

This could be the basis for a strong environmental ethic. Land belongs to God. God lets us use it, but only in accord with God’s purposes. The land cannot “be sold in perpetuity” (25:23) since God assigns it to the people God chooses. Very different from our understanding of private property rights as virtually sacred!

 

I gather that the year of Jubilee may never have been actually put into practice. Certainly it would have caused economic chaos, particularly in a culture that did not have a way to keep good records of small land deals. But it is a helpful corrective for our excessively possessive society.
Fr. Harvey