Saadia's Tafsir on Vayikra 25 (Parashat Behar-Bechukotai)

Vayikra 25:1

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה בְּהַר סִינַי לֵאמֹר

.

Then God spoke to Moses, on Mount Sinai, a speaking.

Vayikra 25:2

דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן לָכֶם--וְשָׁבְתָה הָאָרֶץ שַׁבָּת לַיהוָה

. .

Command the sons of Israel and say to them: When you enter the land which I am giving you, then let the land desist — a desisting for God.

Vayikra 25:3

שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים תִּזְרַע שָׂדֶךָ וְשֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים תִּזְמֹר כַּרְמֶךָ וְאָסַפְתָּ אֶת-תְּבוּאָתָהּ

. .

That there be six years in which you sow your estate, and six years in which you tend your vineyard, and gather its yield.

Vayikra 25:4

וּבַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן יִהְיֶה לָאָרֶץ--שַׁבָּת לַיהוָה שָׂדְךָ לֹא תִזְרָע וְכַרְמְךָ לֹא תִזְמֹר

. . .

But in the seventh year there shall be a desisting for the land — it is a sabbath for God; do not sow your estate, and do not tend your vineyard.

Vayikra 25:5

אֵת סְפִיחַ קְצִירְךָ לֹא תִקְצוֹר וְאֶת-עִנְּבֵי נְזִירֶךָ לֹא תִבְצֹר שְׁנַת שַׁבָּתוֹן יִהְיֶה לָאָרֶץ

. .

The aftergrowth of your harvest you shall not reap, and the single grapes of your vineyard you shall not pluck — for it is a year of desisting for the land.

Vayikra 25:6

וְהָיְתָה שַׁבַּת הָאָרֶץ לָכֶם לְאָכְלָה--לְךָ וּלְעַבְדְּךָ וְלַאֲמָתֶךָ וְלִשְׂכִירְךָ וּלְתוֹשָׁבְךָ הַגָּרִים עִמָּךְ

. . .

And let what grows from the desisted land be for you as food — for you, and for your male slave, and for your female slave, and for your hired worker, and for your guest, who dwell with you.

Vayikra 25:7

וְלִבְהֶמְתְּךָ--וְלַחַיָּה אֲשֶׁר בְּאַרְצֶךָ תִּהְיֶה כָל-תְּבוּאָתָהּ לֶאֱכֹל

. .

And for your beasts, and for the wild creatures that are in your land, all its yield shall be for food.

Vayikra 25:8

וְסָפַרְתָּ לְךָ שֶׁבַע שַׁבְּתֹת שָׁנִים--שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים וְהָיוּ לְךָ יְמֵי שֶׁבַע שַׁבְּתֹת הַשָּׁנִים תֵּשַׁע וְאַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה

. .

Then count seven years of desisting — and those seven years, seven times — so that the sum of that shall be forty-nine years.

Vayikra 25:9

וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ שׁוֹפַר תְּרוּעָה בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִעִי בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ בְּיוֹם הַכִּפֻּרִים תַּעֲבִירוּ שׁוֹפָר בְּכָל-אַרְצְכֶם

. . .

And sound a gathering horn on the tenth day of the seventh month — it is the Day of Atonement — sound it throughout all your lands.

Vayikra 25:11

יוֹבֵל הִוא שְׁנַת הַחֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה--תִּהְיֶה לָכֶם לֹא תִזְרָעוּ--וְלֹא תִקְצְרוּ אֶת-סְפִיחֶיהָ וְלֹא תִבְצְרוּ אֶת-נְזִרֶיהָ

. . .

And among the conditions of this year of release, the year of fifty: you shall not sow in it, and you shall not reap its aftergrowth, and you shall not pluck its single grapes.

Vayikra 25:12

כִּי יוֹבֵל הִוא קֹדֶשׁ תִּהְיֶה לָכֶם מִן-הַשָּׂדֶה--תֹּאכְלוּ אֶת-תְּבוּאָתָהּ

. . .

For it is a year of release — it shall be holy for you; from the open country you shall eat its yield as that which is freely permitted.

Vayikra 25:13

בִּשְׁנַת הַיּוֹבֵל הַזֹּאת תָּשֻׁבוּ אִישׁ אֶל-אֲחֻזָּתוֹ

.

And in this year of release, every man shall return to his holding.

Vayikra 25:14

וְכִי-תִמְכְּרוּ מִמְכָּר לַעֲמִיתֶךָ אוֹ קָנֹה מִיַּד עֲמִיתֶךָ--אַל-תּוֹנוּ אִישׁ אֶת-אָחִיו

. .

And when you sell a sale to your fellow, or buy from him, let no one wrong his brother.

Vayikra 25:15

בְּמִסְפַּר שָׁנִים אַחַר הַיּוֹבֵל תִּקְנֶה מֵאֵת עֲמִיתֶךָ בְּמִסְפַּר שְׁנֵי-תְבוּאֹת יִמְכָּר-לָךְ

. .

By the count of years after the year of release you shall buy from your fellow, and by the count of years of its yield he shall sell to you.

Vayikra 25:16

לְפִי רֹב הַשָּׁנִים תַּרְבֶּה מִקְנָתוֹ וּלְפִי מְעֹט הַשָּׁנִים תַּמְעִיט מִקְנָתוֹ כִּי מִסְפַּר תְּבוּאֹת הוּא מֹכֵר לָךְ

. . . .

According to the abundance of the years, the price must be increased for him; and according to the fewness of them, it is permitted that it be decreased for him — for it is a counted number of yields that he is selling you.

Vayikra 25:17

וְלֹא תוֹנוּ אִישׁ אֶת-עֲמִיתוֹ וְיָרֵאתָ מֵאֱלֹהֶיךָ כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. .

And let no one wrong his fellow; and fear your Lord — for I am God, your Lord, who punishes.

Vayikra 25:18

וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת-חֻקֹּתַי וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם--וִישַׁבְתֶּם עַל-הָאָרֶץ לָבֶטַח

.

And perform My statutes, and My ordinances — keep them and act by them; and dwell in the land, trusting in Me.

Vayikra 25:19

וְנָתְנָה הָאָרֶץ פִּרְיָהּ וַאֲכַלְתֶּם לָשֹׂבַע וִישַׁבְתֶּם לָבֶטַח עָלֶיהָ

. .

The land shall bring forth its fruit for you, and you shall eat it with enjoyment, and you shall settle therein, trusting.

Vayikra 25:20

וְכִי תֹאמְרוּ מַה-נֹּאכַל בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת הֵן לֹא נִזְרָע וְלֹא נֶאֱסֹף אֶת-תְּבוּאָתֵנוּ

. . .

And if you say: What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we do not sow, and do not gather our yield —

Vayikra 25:21

וְצִוִּיתִי אֶת-בִּרְכָתִי לָכֶם בַּשָּׁנָה הַשִּׁשִּׁית וְעָשָׂת אֶת-הַתְּבוּאָה לִשְׁלֹשׁ הַשָּׁנִים

. .

I shall command My blessing upon you in the sixth year, and its yield shall suffice you for three years.

Vayikra 25:22

וּזְרַעְתֶּם אֵת הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמִינִת וַאֲכַלְתֶּם מִן-הַתְּבוּאָה יָשָׁן עַד הַשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִת עַד-בּוֹא תְּבוּאָתָהּ--תֹּאכְלוּ יָשָׁן

. . . .

And you shall sow in the eighth year, while you are eating from the old yield — until the ninth year, until the coming of its yield, you shall eat what is old.

Vayikra 25:23

וְהָאָרֶץ לֹא תִמָּכֵר לִצְמִתֻת--כִּי-לִי הָאָרֶץ כִּי-גֵרִים וְתוֹשָׁבִים אַתֶּם עִמָּדִי

. .

And the land shall not be sold outright — for it is Mine; you are but residents and guests with Me.

Vayikra 25:24

וּבְכֹל אֶרֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶם גְּאֻלָּה תִּתְּנוּ לָאָרֶץ

.

And throughout all the land of your holding, grant dominion over the land.

Vayikra 25:25

כִּי-יָמוּךְ אָחִיךָ וּמָכַר מֵאֲחֻזָּתוֹ--וּבָא גֹאֲלוֹ הַקָּרֹב אֵלָיו וְגָאַל אֵת מִמְכַּר אָחִיו

. . .

And if your brother becomes impoverished and sells something of his holding, then let his nearest guardian come and take charge of his brother's sale.

Vayikra 25:26

וְאִישׁ כִּי לֹא יִהְיֶה-לּוֹ גֹּאֵל וְהִשִּׂיגָה יָדוֹ וּמָצָא כְּדֵי גְאֻלָּתוֹ

. .

And any man who has no guardian — if his hand reaches, and he finds the measure of his redemption —

Vayikra 25:27

וְחִשַּׁב אֶת-שְׁנֵי מִמְכָּרוֹ וְהֵשִׁיב אֶת-הָעֹדֵף לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר מָכַר-לוֹ וְשָׁב לַאֲחֻזָּתוֹ

. .

let him reckon the years of his sale, and return the surplus to the man to whom he sold it, and he shall return to his holding.

Vayikra 25:28

וְאִם לֹא-מָצְאָה יָדוֹ דֵּי הָשִׁיב לוֹ--וְהָיָה מִמְכָּרוֹ בְּיַד הַקֹּנֶה אֹתוֹ עַד שְׁנַת הַיּוֹבֵל וְיָצָא בַּיֹּבֵל וְשָׁב לַאֲחֻזָּתוֹ

. . . .

And if his hand does not reach the measure of what he is to return to him, then his sale shall remain in the hand of its buyer until the year of release; and in that year it shall go out, and he shall return to his holding.

Vayikra 25:29

וְאִישׁ כִּי-יִמְכֹּר בֵּית-מוֹשַׁב עִיר חוֹמָה--וְהָיְתָה גְּאֻלָּתוֹ עַד-תֹּם שְׁנַת מִמְכָּרוֹ יָמִים תִּהְיֶה גְאֻלָּתוֹ

. . .

And any man who sells a dwelling house in a town that has a wall — he shall have the option until the completion of a year from the day of his sale; his redemption shall be a full year.

Vayikra 25:30

וְאִם לֹא-יִגָּאֵל עַד-מְלֹאת לוֹ שָׁנָה תְמִימָה--וְקָם הַבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר-בָּעִיר אֲשֶׁר-לא (לוֹ) חֹמָה לַצְּמִיתֻת לַקֹּנֶה אֹתוֹ לְדֹרֹתָיו לֹא יֵצֵא בַּיֹּבֵל

. . . .

And if he does not redeem it by the time a full year is completed for him, then the house in the town that has a wall is confirmed outright for the buyer and his generations — it shall not go out in the year of release.

Vayikra 25:31

וּבָתֵּי הַחֲצֵרִים אֲשֶׁר אֵין-לָהֶם חֹמָה סָבִיב--עַל-שְׂדֵה הָאָרֶץ יֵחָשֵׁב גְּאֻלָּה תִּהְיֶה-לּוֹ וּבַיֹּבֵל יֵצֵא

. . . .

But houses of the outlying settlements that have no wall surrounding them shall be reckoned like the estates of the open country — dominion shall apply to them, and they shall go out in the year of release.

Vayikra 25:32

וְעָרֵי הַלְוִיִּם--בָּתֵּי עָרֵי אֲחֻזָּתָם גְּאֻלַּת עוֹלָם תִּהְיֶה לַלְוִיִּם

.

But as for the towns of the Levites, and the houses of their towns which are their holding — they have the right to redeem them forever.

Vayikra 25:33

וַאֲשֶׁר יִגְאַל מִן-הַלְוִיִּם וְיָצָא מִמְכַּר-בַּיִת וְעִיר אֲחֻזָּתוֹ בַּיֹּבֵל כִּי בָתֵּי עָרֵי הַלְוִיִּם הִוא אֲחֻזָּתָם בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

. . . .

And whoever buys from them — every sold house and the towns of the holding of whichever Levite it may be shall go out in the year of release — for their houses and their towns are their holding among the sons of Israel.

Vayikra 25:34

וּשְׂדֵה מִגְרַשׁ עָרֵיהֶם לֹא יִמָּכֵר כִּי-אֲחֻזַּת עוֹלָם הוּא לָהֶם

.

But the estates of the open ground around their towns shall not be sold at all — for it is their holding forever.

Vayikra 25:35

וְכִי-יָמוּךְ אָחִיךָ וּמָטָה יָדוֹ עִמָּךְ--וְהֶחֱזַקְתָּ בּוֹ גֵּר וְתוֹשָׁב וָחַי עִמָּךְ

. . . .

And if your brother becomes impoverished and his hand falters with you, then strengthen him — that he be as a resident and a guest with you — and let him live with you.

Vayikra 25:36

אַל-תִּקַּח מֵאִתּוֹ נֶשֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּית וְיָרֵאתָ מֵאֱלֹהֶיךָ וְחֵי אָחִיךָ עִמָּךְ

. .

Do not take from him a sample-interest nor usury; and fear your Lord, so that your brother may live with you.

Vayikra 25:37

אֶת-כַּסְפְּךָ--לֹא-תִתֵּן לוֹ בְּנֶשֶׁךְ וּבְמַרְבִּית לֹא-תִתֵּן אָכְלֶךָ

.

And do not advance to him your money or your food at sample-interest, nor at usury.

Vayikra 25:38

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר-הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם--לָתֵת לָכֶם אֶת-אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן לִהְיוֹת לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים

. .

I am God, your Lord, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, that I may be your God.

Vayikra 25:39

וְכִי-יָמוּךְ אָחִיךָ עִמָּךְ וְנִמְכַּר-לָךְ--לֹא-תַעֲבֹד בּוֹ עֲבֹדַת עָבֶד

. .

And if your brother becomes impoverished with you and sells himself to you, do not press him into the service of slaves.

Vayikra 25:40

כְּשָׂכִיר כְּתוֹשָׁב יִהְיֶה עִמָּךְ עַד-שְׁנַת הַיֹּבֵל יַעֲבֹד עִמָּךְ

.

Rather, as a hired worker or a guest he shall be with you; until the year of release he shall serve you.

Vayikra 25:41

וְיָצָא מֵעִמָּךְ--הוּא וּבָנָיו עִמּוֹ וְשָׁב אֶל-מִשְׁפַּחְתּוֹ וְאֶל-אֲחֻזַּת אֲבֹתָיו יָשׁוּב

. . .

Then he shall go out from your presence — he and his sons with him — and return to his clan and to the holding of his father.

Vayikra 25:42

כִּי-עֲבָדַי הֵם אֲשֶׁר-הוֹצֵאתִי אֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם לֹא יִמָּכְרוּ מִמְכֶּרֶת עָבֶד

. .

For they are My servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt — they shall not be sold in the manner of the sale of slaves.

Vayikra 25:43

לֹא-תִרְדֶּה בוֹ בְּפָרֶךְ וְיָרֵאתָ מֵאֱלֹהֶיךָ

.

And do not hold dominion over him with cruelty; and fear your Lord.

Vayikra 25:44

וְעַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתְךָ אֲשֶׁר יִהְיוּ-לָךְ מֵאֵת הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹתֵיכֶם--מֵהֶם תִּקְנוּ עֶבֶד וְאָמָה

. .

And your male slave and your female slave who shall be yours — from the nations that are around you, from them you may acquire slaves and maidservants.

Vayikra 25:45

וְגַם מִבְּנֵי הַתּוֹשָׁבִים הַגָּרִים עִמָּכֶם מֵהֶם תִּקְנוּ וּמִמִּשְׁפַּחְתָּם אֲשֶׁר עִמָּכֶם אֲשֶׁר הוֹלִידוּ בְּאַרְצְכֶם וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לַאֲחֻזָּה

. . .

Also from the children of the residents who dwell with you, you may buy from them; and from their clans born in your land — and they shall be a holding for you.

Vayikra 25:46

וְהִתְנַחַלְתֶּם אֹתָם לִבְנֵיכֶם אַחֲרֵיכֶם לָרֶשֶׁת אֲחֻזָּה--לְעֹלָם בָּהֶם תַּעֲבֹדוּ וּבְאַחֵיכֶם בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו לֹא-תִרְדֶּה בוֹ בְּפָרֶךְ

. .

You shall bequeath them to your sons after you as an inheritance, and you may press them into service forever; but as for your brothers the sons of Israel, no one shall hold dominion over his brother with cruelty.

Vayikra 25:47

וְכִי תַשִּׂיג יַד גֵּר וְתוֹשָׁב עִמָּךְ וּמָךְ אָחִיךָ עִמּוֹ וְנִמְכַּר לְגֵר תּוֹשָׁב עִמָּךְ אוֹ לְעֵקֶר מִשְׁפַּחַת גֵּר

. . .

And if the hand of a stranger or a resident with you reaches, and your brother becomes impoverished with him, and sells himself to a stranger or a resident with you, or to the root of the stranger's clan —

Vayikra 25:48

אַחֲרֵי נִמְכַּר גְּאֻלָּה תִּהְיֶה-לּוֹ אֶחָד מֵאֶחָיו יִגְאָלֶנּוּ

.

after he has been sold there shall be a redemption for him; one of his brothers shall redeem him.

Vayikra 25:49

אוֹ-דֹדוֹ אוֹ בֶן-דֹּדוֹ יִגְאָלֶנּוּ אוֹ-מִשְּׁאֵר בְּשָׂרוֹ מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתּוֹ יִגְאָלֶנּוּ אוֹ-הִשִּׂיגָה יָדוֹ וְנִגְאָל

. . .

Or his uncle or his uncle's son shall redeem him, or one of the near kinsmen of his own person from his clan shall redeem him; or if his hand reaches, he shall redeem himself.

Vayikra 25:50

וְחִשַּׁב עִם-קֹנֵהוּ מִשְּׁנַת הִמָּכְרוֹ לוֹ עַד שְׁנַת הַיֹּבֵל וְהָיָה כֶּסֶף מִמְכָּרוֹ בְּמִסְפַּר שָׁנִים כִּימֵי שָׂכִיר יִהְיֶה עִמּוֹ

. . . .

And he shall reckon with his buyer how many years he was sold to him until the year of release; and the price of his sale shall be apportioned according to the count of the years, and he shall be with him in those years as the days of a hired worker.

Vayikra 25:51

אִם-עוֹד רַבּוֹת בַּשָּׁנִים--לְפִיהֶן יָשִׁיב גְּאֻלָּתוֹ מִכֶּסֶף מִקְנָתוֹ

. .

If many years remain, according to their measure he shall return his redemption, proportioned from the price of his purchase.

Vayikra 25:52

וְאִם-מְעַט נִשְׁאַר בַּשָּׁנִים עַד-שְׁנַת הַיֹּבֵל--וְחִשַּׁב-לוֹ כְּפִי שָׁנָיו יָשִׁיב אֶת-גְּאֻלָּתוֹ

. .

And if few years remain until the year of release, he shall reckon with him — according to their measure he shall return his redemption.

Vayikra 25:53

כִּשְׂכִיר שָׁנָה בְּשָׁנָה יִהְיֶה עִמּוֹ לֹא-יִרְדֶּנּוּ בְּפֶרֶךְ לְעֵינֶיךָ

.

In sum, as a hired worker year by year he shall be with him; he shall not hold dominion over him with cruelty in your presence.

Vayikra 25:54

וְאִם-לֹא יִגָּאֵל בְּאֵלֶּה--וְיָצָא בִּשְׁנַת הַיֹּבֵל הוּא וּבָנָיו עִמּוֹ

. .

And if he is not redeemed by these means, then he shall go out in the year of release — he and his sons with him.

Vayikra 25:55

כִּי-לִי בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדִים--עֲבָדַי הֵם אֲשֶׁר-הוֹצֵאתִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. . .

For the sons of Israel are servants to Me — since they are My servants, whom I brought out from the land of Egypt: I am God, your Lord; serve Me.