In this chapter the Israelites are directed, when come into the land of Canaan, to observe every seventh year as a sabbatical year, in which there was to be no tillage of the land, and yet there would be a sufficiency for man and beast, Le 25:1; and every fiftieth year as a year of jubilee, in which also there was to be no tillage of the land, and every man was to return to his possession or estate, which had been sold to another any time before this, Le 25:8; and a promise of safety and plenty in the seventh year is made to encourage the observance of it, Le 25:18; and several laws and rules are delivered out concerning the sale of lands, the redemption of them, and their return to their original owner in the year of jubilee, Le 25:23; and the sale of houses, and the redemption of them, and the difference between those in walled cities and those in villages, with respect thereunto, Le 25:29; and also concerning the houses of the cities of the Levites, and the fields of the suburbs of them, Le 25:32; to which are added some instructions about relieving decayed, persons, and lending and giving to them, without taking usury of them, Le 25:34; and other laws concerning the release of such Israelites as had sold themselves for servants to the Israelites, in the year of jubilee, since none but Heathens were to be bondmen and bondmaids for ever, Le 25:39; and of such who were sold to proselytes, Le 25:47.
Ver. 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses in Mount Sinai,.... Not when Moses was with the Lord on that mount forty days, but after he came down from thence, even after the tabernacle was set up, while the children of Israel where encamped about that mountain, and before they took their journey from thence; for they continued some time in the wilderness of Sinai, and here it was the Lord spoke to Moses; for the words may be rendered "by" or "near Mount Sinai" ; and so Josephus says, the following laws were delivered to Moses, when Israel was encamped under Mount Sinai:saying; as follows.
rhb "apud seu juxta montem", Piscator; so Ainsworth, Patrick, &c. Antiqu. l. 3. c. 12. sect.