Hi.
There was a story on NPR about this yesterday, but I missed it.
Is there anyone who believes in this and could fill me in?
Why are people not allowed to farm?
How do you get around not disobeying the Bible when purchasing produce for the next year?
Thanks
:)
2007-09-15 00:02:44 · 8 answers · asked by Squirtle 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This comes from a law God gave the Hebrews to let the ground remain fallow once every seven years and this is that year.
Most American farmers will tell you if you don't let the land rest production diminishes and it takes chemicals to get anything to grow.If you aren't a Jew or a farmer in Israel it doesn't really apply to you but it got them exiled to Babylon for disobedience. God took his one year they had stolen from him for 490 years and sent them off the land for 70 years 490/7=70.
2007-09-15 00:11:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Every 7 years the land is allowed to rest. Grain was put aside the prev year.
Also, when you did plant, a certain portion was to be put aside to feed the poor and was not to be harvested. The poor were allowed to come and take what they wanted.
There are many laws (halacha) that govern Jewish farming and I am not up to date on them as I do not live on a farm and have no experience of living on a farm but there are some basics I know and that is one of them.
Sorry I could not help you more.
2007-09-15 07:16:54 · answer #2 · answered by Feivel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From what I understand is that every 7 years the Jewish law calls for their land to rest, This is known as the sabbath for the land, But I have also heard that many Jews will not farm their land on the every 7th year, But some has allowed someone else to farm it, According to their jewish teachings in the OT this is wrong. But me being a gentile, I farm my land every year, this is my understanding of this law,
2007-09-15 07:18:41 · answer #3 · answered by birdsflies 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Every seventh yer is a sabbatical year, just as every seventh day.
This allows the land to rest and renew its self- as you can see G-d found it quite important to cease activity periodically in order to maintain health.
It applies to Jews- a lot - most, really- of produce can be bought from non-jews!
2007-09-15 08:25:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You'll get a lot of excuses. Most will be along the lines of "those were laws for the Hebrews, not Biblical laws for everybody". If that's the case, then how do we tell which parts of the Bible are not of use and which are? I do it the logical way, and scrap the whole thing as mostly worthless and just do what is right in a modern context with no excuses.
2007-09-15 07:05:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
I believe you refer to the Shemitah law...
"Shnat Shmita" ("year of remission") is a year in which you don't allow to farm your grounds IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabbatical_year_%28Bible%29
2007-09-15 15:35:19 · answer #6 · answered by yotg 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yotg, got the right answer, it only refers to the land of Israel.
2007-09-17 00:46:28 · answer #7 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it just shows what an outdated fairy tale it is
2007-09-15 07:07:44 · answer #8 · answered by andrew w 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋