Seventh Year Release

In Deuteronomy, there are additional laws associated with the seventh year, Deuteronomy 15:1-2.

¹At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. ²And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called Yehovah’s release.

At the end of seven years all debts are forgiven.  That is, if one is an Israelite.  As for foreigners, Goyim or Gentiles, Deuteronomy 15:3.

³Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;

If one is not an Israelite, there is no release or forgiveness of debt.  In addition, if our brother is indebted, we are to make restitution for him.

Deuteronomy 15:12

¹²And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.

All Hebrew slaves are released from their masters.  Not only are they to be released, the former master was to provide for them, Deuteronomy 15:13-14.

¹³And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: ¹⁴Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith Yehovah thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.

This is the great fairness of God.  Again, if one observes the commandment, God provides a blessing, Deuteronomy 15:18.

¹⁸It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and Yehovah thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.

Hopefully, you are starting to see a trend here.  Obedience to commandments result in blessings.

In the Sabbatical Year, the land is not to be sown, gathered or pruned.  It is a year of rest for the land.  All debts of the Children of Israel are to be forgiven.  All Hebrew slaves are to be released.  If need be, we are to make restitution for our brethren.  However, there is an exception for slaves in the seventh year, the Sabbatical Year, Deuteronomy 15:16-17.

¹⁶And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; ¹⁷Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.

In the seventh year, a slave could chose to remain as a slave.  Finally, the Sabbatical laws do not apply to foreigners, gentiles.

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