Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Leviticus 26:35 mean?
A: Leviticus 26:35 refers to the concept of Shemitah (the Sabbatical year) in the Land of Israel. The verse explains that if the Jewish people fail to observe the Shemitah years properly, the land will lie desolate during their exile, 'resting' to make up for the missed Sabbatical years. This is a consequence mentioned among the rebukes (Tochachah) for not following Hashem's commandments.
Q: Why is the Shemitah year important in Judaism?
A: The Shemitah year is a Torah commandment (Leviticus 25:1-7) requiring that every seventh year, the land in Israel must rest—no agricultural work may be done. It teaches trust in Hashem, as farmers must rely on Him for sustenance that year. The Talmud (Avot 3:17) also connects Shemitah to spiritual elevation, as it allows time for Torah study and reflection.
Q: How does Leviticus 26:35 apply today?
A: Today, when the Jewish people are returned to the Land of Israel, the laws of Shemitah still apply according to Halacha (Jewish law). The verse reminds us of the importance of observing these commandments properly to maintain our connection to the land. The Chofetz Chaim and other rabbis emphasize that observing Shemitah strengthens our spiritual bond with Eretz Yisrael.
Q: What is the connection between Shemitah and exile in this verse?
A: Rashi explains that the 70 years of Babylonian exile corresponded to the 70 Shemitah years the Jewish people had failed to observe (based on 490 years of neglect). This shows the precision of Divine justice—the land 'made up' its missed rest. The Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah) also teaches that exile happens when the Jewish people disregard the sanctity of the land's laws.
Q: Can we see historical examples of this verse's fulfillment?
A: Yes, Jewish history records this. The Talmud (Avodah Zarah 9a) calculates that the First Temple's destruction and 70-year exile aligned with missed Shemitah cycles. Similarly, the Second Temple's destruction occurred shortly after a Shemitah year (Josephus and Talmudic sources). This demonstrates the Torah's eternal truth and the consequences of neglecting mitzvot.
Verse Context (Vayikra 26:35)
This verse appears in the Tochacha (Rebuke) section of Parashat Bechukotai, where the Torah warns of the consequences of failing to observe the mitzvot. The verse refers to the land of Israel lying desolate during the Jewish people's exile as a form of restitution for the Sabbatical years (Shmita) that were not properly observed.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi (Vayikra 26:35) explains that the land will compensate for the Sabbatical years that were violated during the Jewish people's residence in it. He calculates that the Babylonian exile lasted 70 years, corresponding to the 70 Sabbatical years that were not observed during the 490 years prior to the destruction of the First Temple (70 x 7 = 490). This demonstrates the precision of divine justice—measure for measure.
Rambam's Perspective
In Hilchot Shemita v'Yovel (10:3–4), the Rambam emphasizes that neglecting Shmita leads to exile, as the verse states. He connects this to the broader principle that the land of Israel is intrinsically linked to Torah observance—when mitzvot are disregarded, the land "vomits out" its inhabitants (Vayikra 18:28). The forced rest of the land during exile serves as a rectification for its missed Sabbatical rests.
Midrashic Interpretation
The Sifra (Behar 2:2) elaborates that the land's desolation is not merely punitive but restorative. Just as a field benefits from lying fallow during Shmita, the extended rest during exile allows the land to regain its spiritual and agricultural vitality. This aligns with the concept of Tikkun (rectification), where suffering or exile serves to repair past transgressions.
Key Lessons