John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee , etc.] Or weeks of years; and there being seven days in a week, and a day being put for a year, seven weeks of years made forty nine years; the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, and Jarchi, interpret it seven “shemittas”, or sabbatical years; and a sabbatical year being every seventh year, made the same number; seven times seven years : or forty nine years, as follows; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be forty and nine years ; just such a space of years there was between each jubilee, which, as afterwards said, was the fiftieth year; so as there were a seventh day sabbath, and a fiftieth day sabbath, the day of Pentecost, so there were a seventh year sabbath, or sabbatical year, and a fiftieth year sabbath.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-22 - The word "jubilee" signifies a peculiarly animated sound of the silve trumpets. This sound was to be made on the evening of the great day of atonement; for the proclamation of gospel liberty and salvation result from the sacrifice of the Redeemer. It was provided that the land should not be sold away from their families. They could only be disposed of, as it were, by leases till the year of jubilee, and the returned to the owner or his heir. This tended to preserve their tribe and families distinct, till the coming of the Messiah. The libert every man was born to, if sold or forfeited, should return at the yea of jubilee. This was typical of redemption by Christ from the slaver of sin and Satan, and of being brought again to the liberty of the children of God. All bargains ought to be made by this rule, "Ye shal not oppress one another," not take advantage of one another's ignoranc or necessity, "but thou shalt fear thy God." The fear of God reignin in the heart, would restrain from doing wrong to our neighbour in wor or deed. Assurance was given that they should be great gainers, by observing these years of rest. If we are careful to do our duty, we ma trust God with our comfort. This was a miracle for an encouragement to all neither sowed or reaped. This was a miracle for an encouragement to all God's people, in all ages, to trust him in the way of duty. Ther is nothing lost by faith and self-denial in obedience. Some asked, What shall we eat the seventh year? Thus many Christians anticipate evils questioning what they shall do, and fearing to proceed in the way of duty. But we have no right to anticipate evils, so as to distres ourselves about them. To carnal minds we may appear to act absurdly but the path of duty is ever the path of safety.
Original Hebrew וספרת5608 לך שׁבע7651 שׁבתת7676 שׁנים8141 שׁבע7651 שׁנים8141 שׁבע7651 פעמים6471 והיו1961 לך ימי3117 שׁבע7651 שׁבתת7676 השׁנים8141 תשׁע8672 וארבעים705 שׁנה׃8141
