Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
Now this was the custom in earlier times in Israel when it came to buying back property and making exchanges. To make any deal official, a man would take off his sandal and give it to the other person. This served as proof of the agreement in Israel.
The writer is explaining an old Israeli custom where removing and exchanging a sandal was like signing a contract to make business deals official.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, before written contracts were common, people used symbolic gestures to seal legal agreements. The sandal represented one's right to walk on and possess land, so transferring it symbolized transferring property rights. This custom was so well-established that the author felt the need to explain it to readers who might not be familiar with this old tradition.
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