Freedom for Slaves

⁸ The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people^(A) in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom^(B) for the slaves.

¹⁵ Recently you repented and did what is right in my sight: Each of you proclaimed freedom to your own people.^(A) You even made a covenant before me in the house that bears my Name.^(B)

¹⁷ “Therefore this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you,^(A) declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague^(B) and famine.^(C) I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.^(D)

Hebrew Servants^(A)(B)

² “If you buy a Hebrew servant,^(C) he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free,^(D) without paying anything.

¹⁰ Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty^(A) throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee^(B) for you; each of you is to return to your family property^(C) and to your own clan.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor