Leviticus 25:32
As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the cities they possess.
As for the cities of the Levites
The Levites were one of the twelve tribes of Israel, set apart for religious duties and service to God. Unlike other tribes, they were not given a large portion of land but were instead allocated specific cities within the territories of other tribes. This arrangement underscores their unique role as spiritual leaders and caretakers of the tabernacle. The cities of the Levites were strategically placed to ensure that they could minister to the entire nation, symbolizing the pervasive presence of God’s law and guidance throughout Israel.

the Levites always have the right
The phrase "always have the right" indicates a perpetual privilege granted to the Levites. This right is not temporary or conditional but is a lasting ordinance. It reflects God's provision and care for those who serve Him, ensuring that the Levites, who had no inheritance of land, were still provided for. This perpetual right also emphasizes the importance of maintaining the spiritual integrity and heritage of the Levitical cities.

to redeem their houses
The concept of redemption here is deeply rooted in the Hebrew word "ga'al," which means to buy back or reclaim. This provision allowed the Levites to reclaim their property if they had to sell it due to financial hardship. It highlights the value God places on family heritage and continuity, ensuring that the Levites could maintain their homes and continue their sacred duties without the fear of permanent loss.

in the cities they possess
The cities possessed by the Levites were not just places of residence but were centers of worship, teaching, and community life. The possession of these cities was a divine mandate, ensuring that the Levites could fulfill their role as intermediaries between God and the people. This phrase underscores the idea that their possession was not merely physical but also spiritual, as they were entrusted with the responsibility of upholding and teaching God’s laws.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Levites
A tribe of Israel set apart for religious duties and service in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. They did not receive a territorial inheritance like the other tribes but were given cities to dwell in.

2. Cities of the Levites
Specific cities allocated to the Levites throughout the land of Israel. These cities were scattered among the other tribes to ensure the Levites could perform their religious duties and teach the law.

3. Redemption
The act of buying back or reclaiming something that was sold or lost. In this context, it refers to the Levites' right to reclaim their houses if they had to sell them.
Teaching Points
God's Provision for His Servants
The Levites were set apart for God's service and did not receive a land inheritance. However, God provided for them through the allocation of cities. This teaches us that God provides for those who dedicate their lives to His service.

The Importance of Redemption
The right of redemption for the Levites underscores the value of maintaining one's inheritance and the importance of restoration. In a broader sense, it points to the spiritual redemption available through Christ.

Community and Support
The scattering of Levitical cities among the tribes ensured that spiritual guidance and teaching were accessible to all Israelites. This highlights the importance of community support and the role of spiritual leaders in society.

Stewardship and Responsibility
The Levites' ability to redeem their homes reflects the responsibility of stewardship over what God has entrusted to us. We are called to manage our resources wisely and with an eye toward restoration and redemption.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the provision for the Levites in Leviticus 25:32 reflect God's care for those who serve Him, and how can this principle be applied in today's church context?

2. In what ways does the concept of redemption in Leviticus 25:32 point to the greater redemption found in Christ, and how can this understanding impact our daily lives?

3. How does the distribution of Levitical cities among the tribes of Israel illustrate the importance of spiritual leadership within a community?

4. What lessons can we learn about stewardship and responsibility from the Levites' right to redeem their houses, and how can these lessons be applied to our personal and communal lives?

5. How do the principles found in Leviticus 25:32 connect with the New Testament teachings on the priesthood of all believers, and what practical steps can we take to live out this priesthood in our communities?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Numbers 35
This chapter provides further details about the cities of the Levites, including the cities of refuge, which were part of their inheritance.

Joshua 21
Describes the allocation of the Levitical cities among the tribes of Israel, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promise to provide for the Levites.

Hebrews 7
Discusses the priesthood of the Levites and contrasts it with the priesthood of Jesus, highlighting the temporary nature of the Levitical system.
A Sabbath of Rest unto the LandW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 25:2-55
Deliverance from SinHoward James.Leviticus 25:2-55
Freedom Through ChristT. De Witt Talmage.Leviticus 25:2-55
Jubilee GladnessJ. Cairns.Leviticus 25:2-55
Land Laws Among Other NationsM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
Land TenureT. T. Munger.Leviticus 25:2-55
Laws of Trade-WagesHom. ReviewLeviticus 25:2-55
Lessons from the Sabbatical YearF. W. Brown.Leviticus 25:2-55
Liberty Through ChristRichard Newton, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
Man Need not Despair of -ProvidenceBp. Babington.Leviticus 25:2-55
Practical Reliance Upon GodIndian Witness.Leviticus 25:2-55
Released from DebtChristian AgeLeviticus 25:2-55
Results of Jubilee YearT. Guthrie, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
Sojourners with GodHomilistLeviticus 25:2-55
The Hebrew System of Land TenureR. Reid.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Joyful SoundC. S. Robinson, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The JubileeHomilistLeviticus 25:2-55
The JubileeHomilistLeviticus 25:2-55
The Jubilee a Type of the GospelWm. Sleigh.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Jubilee Year: its Fourfold SignificanceW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Oppressor Rebuked and the Oppression RemovedC. F. S. Money, M. A.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Purpose of the Sabbatical YearM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Resemblance Between the Year of Jubilee and the GospelT. B. Baker.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Sabbath of the FieldsH. Macmillan, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Sabbatic Year and JubileeJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Sinner's Chains are Self ForgedPreacher's Lantern.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeA. G. Brown.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeA. H. Currier.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeWalter Roberts, M. A.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeD. C. Hughes, M. A.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeT. Binney.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year SabbathDr. Ide.Leviticus 25:2-55
What Shall We Eat the Seventh Year?A. G. Brown.Leviticus 25:2-55
The Year of JubileeR.A. Redford Leviticus 25:8-34
The JubileeR.M. Edgar Leviticus 25:8-55
Year of JubileeW. Clarkson Leviticus 25:8-55
Year of Jubilee: Ii. the World's RedemptionW. Clarkson Leviticus 25:8-55
Year of Jubilee: Iii. the Blessed KingdomW. Clarkson Leviticus 25:8-55
RedemptionJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 25:23-34
People
Israelites, Levites, Moses
Places
Canaan, Egypt, Mount Sinai
Topics
Age-during, Always, Cities, Got, Houses, Levites, Levitical, Nevertheless, Notwithstanding, Permanent, Perpetual, Possess, Possession, Redeem, Redemption, Towns
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 25:23-43

     5504   rights

Leviticus 25:29-33

     5478   property, houses

Leviticus 25:29-34

     5340   house

Leviticus 25:32-33

     7482   Year of Jubilee

Leviticus 25:32-34

     7266   tribes of Israel

Library
Sojourners with God
'The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is Mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with Me.' --LEV. xxv. 23. The singular institution of the Jubilee year had more than one purpose. As a social and economical arrangement it tended to prevent the extremes of wealth and poverty. Every fiftieth year the land was to revert to its original owners, the lineal descendants of those who had 'come in with the conqueror,' Joshua. Debts were to be remitted, slaves emancipated, and so the mountains
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

God's Slaves
'For they are My servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as bondmen.' --LEV. xxv. 42. This is the basis of the Mosaic legislation as to slavery. It did not suppress but regulated that accursed system. Certainly Hebrew slavery was a very different thing from that of other nations. In the first place, no Jew was to be a slave. To that broad principle there were exceptions, such as the case of the man who voluntarily gave himself up to his creditor. But even
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Kinsman Redeemer
'After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him.'--LEV. xxv. 48. There are several of the institutions and precepts of the Mosaic legislation which, though not prophetic, nor typical, have yet remarkable correspondences with lofty Christian truth. They may be used as symbols, if only we remember that we are diverting them from their original purpose. How singularly these words lend themselves to the statement of the very central truths of Christianity--a slavery
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Boniface viii Ad 1294-1303.
PART I In Celestine's place was chosen Benedict Gaetani, who, although even older than the worn-out and doting late pope, was still full of strength, both in body and in mind. Benedict (who took the name of Boniface VIII) is said to have been very learned, especially in matters at law; but his pride and ambition led him into attempts which ended in his own ruin, and did serious harm to the papacy. In the year 1300 Boniface set on foot what was called the Jubilee. You will remember the Jubilee which
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

The Kinsman-Redeemer
'Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of Hosts is His name: He shall thoroughly plead their cause.'--JER. l. 34. Among the remarkable provisions of the Mosaic law there were some very peculiar ones affecting the next-of-kin. The nearest living blood relation to a man had certain obligations and offices to discharge, under certain contingencies, in respect of which he received a special name; which is sometimes translated in the Old Testament 'Redeemer,' and sometimes 'Avenger' of blood. What the etymological
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Day of Atonement
Now, I shall invite your attention to the ceremonies of this solemn day, taking the different parts in detail. First, we shall consider the person who made the atonement; secondly, the sacrifice whereby the atonement was typically made; thirdly, the effects of the atonement; and fourthly, our behaviour on the recollection of the atonement, as well set forth by the conduct prescribed to the Israelites on that day. I. First, THE PERSON WHO WAS TO MAKE THE ATONEMENT. And at the outset, we remark that
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
BY A.E. GRIMKE. "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:--and so will I go in unto the king,
Angelina Emily Grimke—An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South

Sin and Forgiveness Between Brethren.
(Autumn, a.d. 29.) ^A Matt. XVIII. 15-35. ^a 15 And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [Having warned against giving offense, Jesus now shows how to act when offense is received. The fault is to be pointed out to the offender, but for the purpose of gaining him--not from a desire to humiliate him. The offended is to seek the offender, and the offender is likewise to seek the offended (Matt. xv. 23, 24),
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Commerce
The remarkable change which we have noticed in the views of Jewish authorities, from contempt to almost affectation of manual labour, could certainly not have been arbitrary. But as we fail to discover here any religious motive, we can only account for it on the score of altered political and social circumstances. So long as the people were, at least nominally, independent, and in possession of their own land, constant engagement in a trade would probably mark an inferior social stage, and imply
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

"And the Redeemer Shall Come unto Zion, and unto them that Turn,"
Isaiah lix. 20.--"And the Redeemer shall come unto Zion, and unto them that turn," &c. Doctrines, as things, have their seasons and times. Every thing is beautiful in its season. So there is no word of truth, but it hath a season and time in which it is beautiful. And indeed that is a great part of wisdom, to bring forth everything in its season, to discern when and where, and to whom it is pertinent and edifying, to speak such and such truths. But there is one doctrine that is never out of season,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Eighth Commandment
Thou shalt not steal.' Exod 20: 15. AS the holiness of God sets him against uncleanness, in the command Thou shalt not commit adultery;' so the justice of God sets him against rapine and robbery, in the command, Thou shalt not steal.' The thing forbidden in this commandment, is meddling with another man's property. The civil lawyers define furtum, stealth or theft to be the laying hands unjustly on that which is another's;' the invading another's right. I. The causes of theft. [1] The internal causes
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Baptism
Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them,' &c. Matt 28: 19. I. The way whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemptions, is, in the use of the sacraments. What are the sacraments in general? They are visible signs of invisible grace. Is not the word of God sufficient to salvation? What need then is there of sacraments? We must not be wise above what is written. It is God's will that his church
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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