A kinsman redeems his brother

Sabbath Years and Jubilee · Leviticus 25

Story guide: A poor Israelite serving a prosperous resident foreign household meets with his brother, uncle, cousin, buyer, and elders to calculate redemption according to years remaining until Jubilee. The buyer treats him as a yearly hired worker while fair silver is counted openly. No hostility toward foreigner, chains, abuse, written figures, modern currency, or visible deity.

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47If the means of a resident foreigner among you become sufficient, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the resident foreigner among you, or to a member of the foreigner’s clan,

48After he has been sold, he may be redeemed; one of his brothers may redeem him.

49or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him; or one of his close blood relatives from his clan may redeem him; or if his hand prospers, he may redeem himself.

50He shall calculate with his buyer from the year he sold himself to him until the year of jubilee, and the price of his sale shall be according to the number of years; like the days of a hired worker he shall be with him.

51If many years still remain, in proportion to them he shall repay his redemption price from the money of his purchase.

52But if few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, then he shall calculate with him; according to his years he shall repay his redemption.

53Like a hired worker year by year he shall be with him; he shall not rule over him harshly in your sight.

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