Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 4000 Creation » 4200 Places » 4206 land » 4208 land, as a divine responsibility Israel's land is a gift from God, though ultimately it remains under divine ownership. Life in the land is therefore characterised by both privilege and responsibility. The land is a gift from God It is Israel's inheritance Deuteronomy 26:1 See also Exodus 32:13; Deuteronomy 4:21,38; Deuteronomy 15:4; Deuteronomy 19:10 Eleven full tribes share the inheritance Inherited land east of Jordan allotted by Moses Numbers 32:33 See also Joshua 12:6; Joshua 13:8,15,24,29 Inherited land west of Jordan allotted by Joshua and others Numbers 34:17-29 See also Joshua 14:1,13; Joshua 15:1,20; Joshua 16:4; Joshua 18:11; Joshua 19:1,10,17,24,32,40,51 Levi receives no inheritance of land Numbers 26:62; Deuteronomy 18:1; Joshua 13:14,33 Israelite households to hold their inheritance in perpetuity Numbers 36:7-9 See also 1 Kings 21:3; Ezekiel 46:18 The land remains under divine ownership Responsibility to God for the land See also The tithe Leviticus 27:30 The tithe of the land's produce given to the LORD, is a kind of rent, a way of acknowledging his ownership. Harvest festivals Exodus 23:16 See also Leviticus 23:15-21,33-43 Sabbath rest The Year of Jubilee Responsibility to fellow Israelites in the land Individual property rights to be respected Deuteronomy 19:14 See also Deuteronomy 27:17; Proverbs 15:25; Proverbs 22:28; Proverbs 23:10; Hosea 5:10 Violation of these rights severely condemned Isaiah 5:8 See also 1 Kings 21:17-19; Job 20:19; Ezekiel 45:8-9; Micah 2:2,9 Responsibility to the poor in the land The fallow (sabbath) year Exodus 23:10-11 See also Leviticus 25:6-7; Deuteronomy 15:1-3 Debts probably include the labour of a debtor's dependants, working to pay off his debt. The Year of Jubilee Harvesting conventions Leviticus 19:9-10 See also Leviticus 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:19-22; Ruth 2:2-3 The land reflects God's blessing and curse Blessing Deuteronomy 28:1-6,11-12 See also Leviticus 25:18-19; Deuteronomy 11:13-15; Psalm 65:9-13; Psalm 67:5-6 Curse Deuteronomy 28:15,18,21 See also Leviticus 18:24-28; Leviticus 20:22-24; Leviticus 26:42-45; 1 Kings 17:1 See also
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