And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:
God ordained the seventh year of rest not from necessity, the land of Canaan bore six years of sowing by His extraordinary blessing, but to make the sanctity of the Sabbath conspicuous everywhere, that Israel might be encouraged to keep it as they beheld the land itself obeying His law.
AI summary
God commanded the land to rest every seventh year to show Israel both His abundance and their dependence on Him alone. This was no mercy to the soil but a test of their obedience in the very matter that touches their purse, whether they would trust His Providence as surely as the sixth day's manna served for two days' meat.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 23:10-19
This law teaches that God alone owns the land and Israel holds it under Him; it trains them to trust His providence, refreshes both soil and servants, and grants the poor an equal share in earth's fruits as joint lords under God, so abundance abounds for all.
AI summary