Matthew Poole and continuators on Leviticus 25:2

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD

So as to be settled in it, for the time of the wars was not to be accounted, nor the time before Ioshua's distribution of the land among them, Ios. 14. 7, 10.

(i. e.) Enjoy rest and freedom from plowing, tilling, &c.

(i. e.) In obedience and unto the honour of God. This was instituted partly for the assertion of Gods soveraign right to the land, in which the Israelites were but tenants at Gods will, partly for the trial and exercise of their obedience, partly for the demonstration of his providence aswell in the general towards men, as more especially towards his own people, of which see below ver. 20, 21, 22. partly to wean them from inordinate love and pursuit of or trust to worldly advantages and to inure them to depend upon God alone and upon Gods blessing for their subsistence, partly to put them in mind of that blessed and eternal rest provided for all good men wherein they should be perfectly freed from all worldly labours and troubles and wholly devoted to the service and enjoyment of God. See on Exod. 23. 11. and lastly, that by their own straits in that year they might learn more compassion to the poor who were under the same straits every year.

Marginal references: Heb. rest.; Exod. 23. 11. See ch. 26. 34.