Leviticus 26:35Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What does the phrase mean, ‘Then shall the earth rejoice, and shall keep its sabbaths all the days of its desolation’? The subsequent explanation clarifies this statement. It states, ‘and ye shall be in the land of your enemies,’ highlighting that they spent seventy years in bondage in Babylon. From the time of Saul until the exile, a span of four hundred and ninety years is noted, with seventy years representing the seventh part of that duration. Thus, this signifies that the land will remain untilled and fallow, as you will be living in a foreign land due to your violation of the Sabbath commandment alongside other laws. Furthermore, it is said, ‘The land shall rejoice, which ye did not celebrate, when ye dwelt therein’ (Leviticus 26:35).