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The Number Seven

Leviticus 25:3,4

In this passage, the number seven is associated with years rather than days: "Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard." We know about the Sabbath day; here Leviticus teaches about the Sabbath year. The Sabbath was very much a part of Israelite culture.

God had told the people He wanted one year out of every seven as a year of rest for the ground, but the Jewish people did not heed it. So God took it. The Jewish people remained captives "until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths" (2 Chron. 36:21).

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