Why the Sabbatical-Year Profiteer Loses All His Wealth

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Behar 1:4

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation of (Proverbs 28:22): "He who hastens after wealth [has an evil eye, and so forth]." These are the merchants of the Sabbatical year, who hasten to become rich and do not observe the Seventh year, and they suppose that they are growing rich. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: You have hastened to grow rich from the Sabbatical year? By your life, you have a loss in the matter! And it came about only thus: once he did not keep the release year, the curse began to enter into his money, and he sells everything that he has. What is written above concerning the matter? (Leviticus 25:2): "And the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord." And afterward (Leviticus 25:14): "And if you make a sale."

Themes

Divine JusticeWealthAdam EveNoahShabbat

Biblical References

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