Dictionary of Bible Themes 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. Deuteronomy 26:5-9The land is a gift from God Deuteronomy 26:1See also It is Israel's inheritance Exodus 32:13Deuteronomy 4:21,38; 15:4; 19:10 Numbers 26:52-55 Eleven full tribes share the inheritance Numbers 32:33See also Inherited land east of Jordan allotted by Moses Joshua 12:6; 13:8,15,24,29Numbers 34:17-29 See also Inherited land west of Jordan allotted by Joshua and others Joshua 14:1,13; 15:1,20; 16:4; 18:11; 19:1,10,17,24,32,40,51Numbers 26:62 Deuteronomy 18:1 Levi receives no inheritance of land Joshua 13:14,33Numbers 36:7-9 See also Israelite households to hold their inheritance in perpetuity 1 Kings 21:3Ezekiel 46:18 Leviticus 25:23 The land remains under divine ownership See also Responsibility to God for the land Matthew 21:33-46Leviticus 27:30 The tithe Exodus 23:16The tithe of the land's produce given to the LORD, is a kind of rent, a way of acknowledging his ownership. See also Harvest festivals Leviticus 23:15-21,33-43Leviticus 25:1-7 Sabbath rest Leviticus 25:8-13The Year of Jubilee Deuteronomy 19:14Responsibility to fellow Israelites in the land See also Individual property rights to be respected Deuteronomy 27:17Proverbs 15:25; 22:28; 23:10 Hosea 5:10 Isaiah 5:8 See also Violation of these rights severely condemned 1 Kings 21:17-19Job 20:19 Ezekiel 45:8-9 Micah 2:2,9 Exodus 23:10-11 Responsibility to the poor in the land See also The fallow (sabbath) year Leviticus 25:6-7Deuteronomy 15:1-3 Leviticus 25:8-13 Debts probably include the labour of a debtor's dependants, working to pay off his debt. The Year of Jubilee Leviticus 19:9-10See also Harvesting conventions Leviticus 23:22Deuteronomy 24:19-22 Ruth 2:2-3 Deuteronomy 28:1-6,11-12 The land reflects God's blessing and curse See also Blessing Leviticus 25:18-19Deuteronomy 11:13-15 Psalms 65:9-13; 67:5-6 Deuteronomy 28:15,18,21 See also Curse Leviticus 18:24-28; 20:22-24; 26:42-451 Kings 17:1 See also 1335 blessing4464 harvest 5446 poverty 5704 inheritance, material 5827 curse 7354 feasts and festivals 7430 Sabbath, in NT 7482 Year of Jubilee 8260 generosity 8488 tithing 8790 oppression |
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