Deuteronomy 15:1

“At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.] Not of servants, for they were not to be dismissed from their service until they had served six years, as is directed to in a following law; for if they were to be set free whenever a sabbatical year came, they might be discharged when they had not served more than a year, or than half a year, or than a month or two. Indeed when the year of jubilee intervened, they were released be it at what time it would; but not in a sabbatical year, which was a year of release of debts, as the following verses show, as well as there was, then a rest of the land from tillage, (<032502>Leviticus 25:2-4). Now this was done at the end or extremity…”

“THE SEVENTH YEAR, A YEAR OF RELEASE FOR THE POOR. (Deu 15:1-11) At the end of every seven years--during the last of the seven, that is, the sabbatical year (Exo 21:2; Exo 23:11; Lev 25:4; Jer 34:14).”

“The year of release is no doubt identical with the sabbatical year of the earlier legislation (Exodus 23:10 ff, and Leviticus 25:2 ff), the command of the older legislation being here amplified. The release was probably for the year, not total and final, and had reference only to loans lent because of poverty (compare Deuteronomy 15:4, Deuteronomy 15:7). Yet even so the law was found to be too stringent for the avarice of the people, because it was one of those which the rabbis “made of none effect by their traditions.” Deuteronomy 15:2 Because it is called the Lord’s release - Render, because proclamation has been made of the Lord’s release. The verb is impersonal, and implies (compare…”

“At the end - That is, in the last year of the seven, as is, most evident from Deu 15:9. And this year of release, as it is, called below, Deu 15:9, is the same with the sabbatical year, Exo 23:11. Deuteronomy 15:2”

“15:1-23 The Law included the regulation of borrowing and lending so that the poor could survive deprivation. It provided restrictions to allow the rich to minister to the needs of the poor without exploiting them. 15:1 cancel the debts: This technical term refers to releasing people in financial bondage from their creditors and from any penalty for their default.”

“Deu 31:10; Exo 21:2, Exo 23:10, Exo 23:11; Lev 25:2-4; Isa 61:1-3; Jer 36:8-18; Luk 4:18, Luk 4:19 Deuteronomy 15:2”

“On the Year of Release. - The first two regulations in this chapter, viz., Deu 15:1-11 and Deu 15:12-18, follow simply upon the law concerning the poor tithe in Deu 14:28-29. The Israelites were not only to cause those who had no possessions (Levites, strangers, widows, and orphans) to refresh themselves with the produce of their inheritance, but they were not to force and oppress the poor. Debtors especially were not to be deprived of the blessings of the sabbatical year ( Deu 15:1-6). "At the end of seven years thou shalt make a release." The expression, "at the end of seven years," is to be understood in the same way as the corresponding phrase, "at the end of three years," in Deu 14:28.…”