利未記25:35-55

25:35 「你的弟兄在你那裡若漸漸貧窮，手中缺乏，你就要幫補他，使他與你同住，像外人和寄居的一樣。
25:36 不可向他取利，也不可向他多要；只要敬畏你的上帝，使你的弟兄與你同住。
25:37 你借錢給他，不可向他取利；借糧給他，也不可向他多要。
25:38 我是耶和華─你們的上帝，曾領你們從埃及地出來，為要把迦南地賜給你們，要作你們的上帝。」
25:39 「你的弟兄若在你那裡漸漸窮乏，將自己賣給你，不可叫他像奴僕服事你。
25:40 他要在你那裡像雇工人和寄居的一樣，要服事你直到禧年。
25:41 到了禧年，他和他兒女要離開你，一同出去歸回本家，到他祖宗的地業那裡去。
25:42 因為他們是我的僕人，是我從埃及地領出來的，不可賣為奴僕。
25:43 不可嚴嚴地轄管他，只要敬畏你的上帝。
25:44 至於你的奴僕、婢女，可以從你四圍的國中買。
25:45 並且那寄居在你們中間的外人和他們的家屬，在你們地上所生的，你們也可以從其中買人；他們要作你們的產業。
25:46 你們要將他們遺留給你們的子孫為產業，要永遠從他們中間揀出奴僕；只是你們的弟兄以色列人，你們不可嚴嚴地轄管。
25:47 「住在你那裡的外人，或是寄居的，若漸漸富足，你的弟兄卻漸漸窮乏，將自己賣給那外人，或是寄居的，或是外人的宗族，
25:48 賣了以後，可以將他贖回。無論是他的弟兄，
25:49 或伯叔、伯叔的兒子，本家的近支，都可以贖他。他自己若漸漸富足，也可以自贖。
25:50 他要和買主計算，從賣自己的那年起，算到禧年；所賣的價值照著年數多少，好像工人每年的工價。
25:51 若缺少的年數多，就要按著年數從買價中償還他的贖價。
25:52 若到禧年只缺少幾年，就要按著年數和買主計算，償還他的贖價。
25:53 他和買主同住，要像每年雇的工人，買主不可嚴嚴地轄管他。
25:54 他若不這樣被贖，到了禧年，要和他的兒女一同出去。
25:55 因為以色列人都是我的僕人，是我從埃及地領出來的。我是耶和華─你們的上帝。」

³⁵ “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. ³⁶ Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. ³⁷ You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit. ³⁸ I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.

³⁹ “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. ⁴⁰ They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. ⁴¹ Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors. ⁴² Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. ⁴³ Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.

⁴⁴ “‘Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. ⁴⁵ You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. ⁴⁶ You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.

⁴⁷ “‘If a foreigner residing among you becomes rich and any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to the foreigner or to a member of the foreigner’s clan, ⁴⁸ they retain the right of redemption after they have sold themselves. One of their relatives may redeem them: ⁴⁹ An uncle or a cousin or any blood relative in their clan may redeem them. Or if they prosper, they may redeem themselves. ⁵⁰ They and their buyer are to count the time from the year they sold themselves up to the Year of Jubilee. The price for their release is to be based on the rate paid to a hired worker for that number of years. ⁵¹ If many years remain, they must pay for their redemption a larger share of the price paid for them. ⁵² If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, they are to compute that and pay for their redemption accordingly. ⁵³ They are to be treated as workers hired from year to year; you must see to it that those to whom they owe service do not rule over them ruthlessly.

⁵⁴ “‘Even if someone is not redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee, ⁵⁵ for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

***************

    上帝在此規定不可以讓以色列人成為奴隸，「你的弟兄若在你那裡漸漸窮乏，將自己賣給你，不可叫他像奴僕服事你。他要在你那裡像雇工人和寄居的一樣，要服事你直到禧年。到了禧年，他和他兒女要離開你，一同出去歸回本家，到他祖宗的地業那裡去。因為他們是我的僕人，是我從埃及地領出來的，不可賣為奴僕。不可嚴嚴地轄管他，只要敬畏你的上帝。」「因為以色列人都是我的僕人，是我從埃及地領出來的。我是耶和華─你們的上帝。」

    也因為這樣，耶穌對信他的猶太人說：「你們若常常遵守我的道，就真是我的門徒；你們必曉得真理，真理必叫你們得以自由。」他們會回答：「我們是亞伯拉罕的後裔，從來沒有作過誰的奴僕。你怎麼說『你們必得以自由』呢？」（約翰福音8:31-33）

    當然，我們也從來沒有作過誰的奴僕，但是主耶穌說：「實實在在地告訴你們，所有犯罪的就是罪的奴僕。」（約翰福音8:34）

    所以，我們要得真正的自由就是要信靠主耶穌的名，成為上帝的兒女。如主耶穌所說：「奴僕不能永遠住在家裡；兒子是永遠住在家裡。所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。」（約翰福音8:35-36）

利未記25:23-34

25:23 「地不可永賣，因為地是我的；你們在我面前是客旅，是寄居的。
25:24 在你們所得為業的全地，也要准人將地贖回。
25:25 你的弟兄（弟兄是指本國人說；下同）若漸漸窮乏，賣了幾分地業，他至近的親屬就要來把弟兄所賣的贖回。
25:26 若沒有能給他贖回的，他自己漸漸富足，能夠贖回，
25:27 就要算出賣地的年數，把餘剩年數的價值還那買主，自己便歸回自己的地業。
25:28 倘若不能為自己得回所賣的，仍要存在買主的手裡直到禧年；到了禧年，地業要出買主的手，自己便歸回自己的地業。
25:29 「人若賣城內的住宅，賣了以後，一年之內可以贖回；在一整年，必有贖回的權柄。
25:30 若在一整年之內不贖回，這城內的房屋就定准永歸買主，世世代代為業；在禧年也不得出買主的手。
25:31 但房屋在無城牆的村莊裡，要看如鄉下的田地一樣，可以贖回；到了禧年，都要出買主的手。
25:32 然而利未人所得為業的城邑，其中的房屋，利未人可以隨時贖回。
25:33 若是一個利未人不將所賣的房屋贖回，是在所得為業的城內，到了禧年就要出買主的手，因為利未人城邑的房屋是他們在以色列人中的產業。
25:34 只是他們各城郊野之地不可賣，因為是他們永遠的產業。」

²³ “‘The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers. ²⁴ Throughout the land that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.

²⁵ “‘If one of your fellow Israelites becomes poor and sells some of their property, their nearest relative is to come and redeem what they have sold. ²⁶ If, however, there is no one to redeem it for them but later on they prosper and acquire sufficient means to redeem it themselves, ²⁷ they are to determine the value for the years since they sold it and refund the balance to the one to whom they sold it; they can then go back to their own property. ²⁸ But if they do not acquire the means to repay, what was sold will remain in the possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. It will be returned in the Jubilee, and they can then go back to their property.

²⁹ “‘Anyone who sells a house in a walled city retains the right of redemption a full year after its sale. During that time the seller may redeem it. ³⁰ If it is not redeemed before a full year has passed, the house in the walled city shall belong permanently to the buyer and the buyer’s descendants. It is not to be returned in the Jubilee. ³¹ But houses in villages without walls around them are to be considered as belonging to the open country. They can be redeemed, and they are to be returned in the Jubilee.

³² “‘The Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the Levitical towns, which they possess. ³³ So the property of the Levites is redeemable—that is, a house sold in any town they hold—and is to be returned in the Jubilee, because the houses in the towns of the Levites are their property among the Israelites. ³⁴ But the pastureland belonging to their towns must not be sold; it is their permanent possession.

***************

    用現代人的法律觀念來定依這段經文，可以說是上帝的「房屋和土地法」。因為房屋和土地世人安身立命的地方，這可以說是重要的法律規範，尤其是對人的生活和生命有重大影響。

    土地是可以贖回的，甚至在禧年的時候，可以不花錢就贖回。在鄉間的房子，也和土地一般。然而城市的房子贖回期限是一年，沒有贖回就是永遠賣出了，還可以一代傳一代。但是，利未人不管房子和土地，不管鄉村或都市，都可以贖回。因為，「只是他們各城郊野之地不可賣，因為是他們永遠的產業。」

    這樣的「房屋和土地法」，是出於上帝的慈愛與恩惠，這樣也不會有炒地皮的人了，使人有田、有屋！

   

利未記25:18-22

25:18 「我的律例，你們要遵行，我的典章，你們要謹守，就可以在那地上安然居住。
25:19 地必出土產，你們就要吃飽，在那地上安然居住。
25:20 你們若說：『這第七年我們不耕種，也不收藏土產，吃甚麼呢？』
25:21 我必在第六年將我所命的福賜給你們，地便生三年的土產。
25:22 第八年，你們要耕種，也要吃陳糧，等到第九年出產收來的時候，你們還吃陳糧。」

¹⁸ “‘Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. ¹⁹ Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety. ²⁰ You may ask, “What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?” ²¹ I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. ²² While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in.

***************

    上帝在這裡要解許多人的惑，尤其對那些認為安息年沒有耕作那來的糧食吃的人。上帝回答：「我必在第六年將我所命的福賜給你們，地便生三年的土產。第八年，你們要耕種，也要吃陳糧，等到第九年出產收來的時候，你們還吃陳糧。」

    這就像嗎哪，在安息日前一天可以取兩天的份，可以使人在安息日可以有食物吃。這也就是告訴我們，上帝凡事都有預備，我們所擔憂的，上帝都知道，他不會讓我們有缺乏的！

    所以，上帝向以色列人，也向我們說：「我的律例，你們要遵行，我的典章，你們要謹守，就可以在那地上安然居住。地必出土產，你們就要吃飽，在那地上安然居住。」

    也因為這樣詩人可以宣告：「耶和華是我的牧者，我必不致缺乏。」

利未記25:8-17

25:8 「你要計算七個安息年，就是七七年。這便為你成了七個安息年，共是四十九年。
25:9 當年七月初十日，你要大發角聲；這日就是贖罪日，要在遍地發出角聲。
25:10 第五十年，你們要當作聖年，在遍地給一切的居民宣告自由。這年必為你們的禧年，各人要歸自己的產業，各歸本家。
25:11 第五十年要作為你們的禧年。這年不可耕種；地中自長的，不可收割；沒有修理的葡萄樹也不可摘取葡萄。
25:12 因為這是禧年，你們要當作聖年，吃地中自出的土產。
25:13 「這禧年，你們各人要歸自己的地業。
25:14 你若賣甚麼給鄰舍，或是從鄰舍的手中買甚麼，彼此不可虧負。
25:15 你要按禧年以後的年數向鄰舍買；他也要按年數的收成賣給你。
25:16 年歲若多，要照數加添價值；年歲若少，要照數減去價值，因為他照收成的數目賣給你。
25:17 你們彼此不可虧負，只要敬畏你們的上帝，因為我是耶和華─你們的上帝。」

⁸ “‘Count off seven sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. ⁹ Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. ¹⁰ Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. ¹¹ The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. ¹² For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.

¹³ “‘In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to their own property.

¹⁴ “‘If you sell land to any of your own people or buy land from them, do not take advantage of each other. ¹⁵ You are to buy from your own people on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. And they are to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops. ¹⁶ When the years are many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the price, because what is really being sold to you is the number of crops. ¹⁷ Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.

***************

    除了安息年之外，更重要的是禧年，也就是這裡所說的：「你要計算七個安息年，就是七七年。這便為你成了七個安息年，共是四十九年。當年七月初十日，你要大發角聲；這日就是贖罪日，要在遍地發出角聲。第五十年，你們要當作聖年，在遍地給一切的居民宣告自由。這年必為你們的禧年，各人要歸自己的產業，各歸本家。」

    所以，禧年是一個特別的年，也有救贖的意思，就像以賽亞書61章1-3節說：「主耶和華的靈在我身上；因為耶和華用膏膏我，叫我傳好信息給謙卑的人（或譯：傳福音給貧窮的人），差遣我醫好傷心的人，報告被擄的得釋放，被囚的出監牢；報告耶和華的恩年，和我們上帝報仇的日子；安慰一切悲哀的人，賜華冠與錫安悲哀的人，代替灰塵；喜樂油代替悲哀；讚美衣代替憂傷之靈；使他們稱為『公義樹』，是耶和華所栽的，叫他得榮耀。」

    這裡的「報告耶和華的恩年」，在《路加福音》主耶穌宣讀為「報告上帝悅納人的禧年」，讓我們在一次確定禧年的救贖意義，正如這裡經文所說，重新擁有自己所失去的！上帝的拯救，也是讓我們重新擁有與上帝有正確合宜的關係，因著耶穌基督！