Matthew Poole and continuators on Exodus 23:11

11 But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest, and lie still : that the poor of thy people may eat : and what they leave, the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy olive-yard .

(i. e.) From manuring, plowing, tilling and sowing, and reaping also, by comparing Levit. 25. 3, 4, 5. And this God ordained not onely for the reason here mentioned, the more comfortable provision for the poor, and for the cattel, but for other weighty reasons, as 1. that the heart and strength of the land might not be eaten out by continual tillage. 2. that he might both try and exercise and also secure the obedience of the Israelites. 3. that he might keep them in dependance upon himself, and give to them and to all their neighbours a manifest proof of his singular and gracious providence over his people. 4. that by this kind of quit-rent they might be admonished that God alone was the Lord and proprietary of the land, and they were onely Tenants at his will. 5. that being freed from their great labours about the land they might have the more leasure to meditate upon Gods works and to attend upon the law, which was to be solemnly read at this time; Deut. 31. 10, &c.

Quest. What had the poor to eat? Ans. Not onely the fruits of the vines and olives and other fruit-trees, but also all that grew of its own accord, Levit. 25. 5. from those seeds which in the last reaping time were scattered here and there, which were much more numerous now than in other years, because God gave a special blessing to the sixth year, whereby it did bring forth the fruit of 3 years, Lev. 25. 21. and in years of so great plenty men are generally more negligent in their reaping, and therefore the relicks are more.

(i. e.) Thou shalt not prune nor dress them, nor gather and appropriate to thy own use what they shall produce, but shalt leave them to the poor.

Marginal references: Or, olive trees.