At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear.
After seven years, you must free any Hebrew person who has been sold to you as a servant. Once they have served you for six years, you must let them go free. But your ancestors did not listen to me or pay attention to what I said.
God is reminding His people that they were supposed to free Hebrew servants after six years of service, but their ancestors ignored this command.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, God had given the law through Moses in the Book of Exodus, requiring that Hebrew slaves be released after six years of service to promote justice and prevent perpetual bondage among His people. This command was part of the covenant to ensure economic fairness and mercy within the community. During Jeremiah's time, as Babylon threatened Judah, the leaders were ignoring this law, leading to God's rebuke through the prophet for their unfaithfulness.
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