For various reasons, such as financial debt, an Israelite would have to sell himself to one of his own Israelite brethren, but the Lord did not allow that situation to exist forever,

“If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you” (Deuteronomy 15.12).

We discover the use of the number seven again, as the Lord declared how long one Israelite could hold onto a fellow-Israelite.

Yes, He wanted the Israelites to pay their debts, even if it meant something such as this, but He also wanted Israelites to show mercy toward one another.

Related Articles

• Deuteronomy 15.1 – Debts released every seven years (sevensinthebible.com)
• Deuteronomy 5.12 – 15 – The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week (sevensinthebible.com)