had lost the land of their family inheritance, their family land was returned, regardless of any previous sale (Lev. 25:28). Throughout the Old Testament’s recording of the jubilee legislation, there is one word that is continually repeated: “release” (Heb. deror, Gk. aphesis). The slaves were “released,” the debts were “released,” and the land was “released.” Quite simply, the jubilee is the year of “release.” What was the purpose of the jubilee and its social