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Education of Israel
31
Owners of the Land
In apportioning the inheritance of His people, it was God’s pur-
pose to teach them, and through them the people of later generations,
correct principles concerning ownership of the land. The land of
Canaan was divided among the whole people; only the Levites, as
ministers of the sanctuary, were excepted. Though a family might
for a time dispose of its possession, it could not barter away the
inheritance of the children. When able to do so, a person was at
liberty at any time to redeem the land; debts were remitted every
seventh year, and in the fiftieth, or year of jubilee, all landed property
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reverted to the original owner. Thus every family was secured in its
possession, and a safeguard was afforded against the extremes either
of wealth or of poverty.
By the distribution of the land among the people, God provided
for them, as for the dwellers in Eden, the occupation most favorable
to development—the care of plants and animals. A further provision
for education was the suspension of agricultural labor every sev-
enth year, the land lying fallow and its spontaneous products being
left to the poor. Thus was given opportunity for more extended
study, for social conversation and worship, and for the exercise of
benevolence—activities often crowded out by life’s cares and labors.
If the principles of God’s laws regarding distribution of property
were carried out in the world today, how different would be the
condition of the people! Observance of these principles would
prevent the terrible evils that in all ages have resulted from the
oppression of the poor by the rich and the hatred of the rich by the
poor. It would aid in bringing a peaceful solution of problems that
now threaten to fill the world with anarchy and bloodshed.
The consecration to God of a tithe of all increase, whether of
the orchard and harvest field, the flocks and herds, or the labor of
brain or hand, the devotion of a second tithe for the relief of the
poor and other benevolent uses, tended to keep fresh before the
people the truth of God’s ownership of all, and of their opportunity
to be channels of His blessings. It was a training adapted to kill out
selfishness, and to cultivate breadth and nobility of character.
A knowledge of God, fellowship with Him in study and in work,
likeness to Him in character, were to be the source, the means, and