Sabbatical year Bible: Encyclopedia II - Sabbatical year Bible - Descriptions of observances

Sabbatical year Bible - Descriptions of observances

Any natural produce of the land was not to be farmed, but instead left to be taken by poor folk, passing strangers, and beasts of the field. All debts, except those of foreigners, were to be deferred for the year.

For some time, it was accepted that all debts between the people of Israel were to be remitted; however, most modern commentators and scholars hold that such debts were to be suspended for the year. This practice was, presumably, instituted to prevent the resources of the debtor, already stretched thin due to the land lying fallow, being exhausted by the discharging of debts.

Some claim that there is "little notice of the observance of this year in Biblical history". It appears to have been much neglected. This statement in 2 Chronicles states that the first Temple was destroyed due to there not being an observance of the Sabbatical year.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Descriptions of observances", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki