Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies’ land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.
Then the land will finally get to rest and observe its sabbaths while it lies empty and you are living in your enemies' countries; yes, then the land will rest and enjoy the sabbaths it was supposed to have.
God is saying that even during punishment and exile, the land will finally get the rest periods that His people had failed to give it.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Leviticus, God is giving the Israelites detailed laws for holy living, including the command for the land to observe a Sabbath rest every seventh year to maintain its fertility and productivity. This verse serves as a warning that if the people disobey these laws, the land will be forced to rest during a period of desolation and exile, as punishment for their unfaithfulness. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled during the Babylonian exile, when the land of Israel lay unused for seventy years, allowing it to recover as foretold.
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