Leviticus 25:23

The land is mine. Though God had given the land of Palestine to His people, He still held title to it. The Israelites were stewards, not owners.

The sabbatical year and the year of jubilee were unique institutions without parallel in any other religion. What other religion than that of Jehovah would dare command its followers to abstain from work one year in seven and promise them God’s blessing and protection so that in the sixth year the land would yield enough for two years? Would not the failure of their God in giving them such a phenomenal increase be the undoing of their religion? Should God fail to provide, after one such experience the people would nevermore worship Jehovah.

It was at the close of the Day of Atonement in Tishri (v. 9) that the trumpets were blown and liberty was proclaimed. What a happy moment this must have been for those who had been in servitude and who had that day received atonement for their sins, and were now set at liberty. They could go home to begin life anew.