Why God Leaves the Sabbatical Year Fruit for the Poor and Beasts

Midrash Aggadah, Leviticus 25:3

"Six years you shall sow your field." Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said: Come and see the creatures of the Holy One, blessed be He, whose mercies are upon all His works, and the Holy One, blessed be He, loves Israel and did not wish to feed them anything forbidden. For it is the way of the earth to bring forth much fruit and seed on the eves of the Sabbatical years and in the seventh year, and they are not good fruit; therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded that they be left for the beasts of the field, and for the stranger, and for the orphan.

Themes

Biblical References