Preoccupation with its legal and sociological background, however, has shunted aside reflection on its theology. In my view, discussions in Old Testament theologies and theological dictionaries are distressingly brief and untheological.6 Thus, in this paper I aim to explore the theology of that Israelite institution. First, I will define and describe Israel’s idea of gō’ēl in general terms. Second, I will explore the theological insights of two key texts—applicable sections of Leviticus 25 and the