[375] Vid. Hospin. de Orig. hujus festi.
[376] Talmud. in Sanedrin. c. Hiel.
[377] ב אלפי חוהו ב אלפי תורה ב אלפי ימות המשיח Duo millia inanitatis, duo millia dierum Messiæ, Talmud. in Sanedrin. c. Halec.
CHAP. X.
Of their Jubilee.
This is the last Festival which God commanded the Jews, it was celebrated every fiftieth year. It is commanded, Lev. 25. 8. Thou shalt number seven Sabbaths of years unto thee, &c. The English word Jubilee is derived from the Hebrew יובל Jobel, signifying a Ram; it signifieth a Rams horn. Seven Priests shall bear before the Ark seven Trumpets of Rams horns, Josh. 6. 4. Where the word Jobelim is used, and is expounded by the Chaldee Paraphrast, Rams-horns. Marbachius is of opinion, that this year was called their Jubilee, from Jubal,[378] the first inventer of musical instruments, of whom we read, Gen. 4. 21. Jubal was the Father of all such as handle the Harp and Organ. Other Authors deliver other reasons of the name, but it is most probable that this year was termed the year of Jubilee from Jobelim, the Rams-horns then sounded. There were five main uses of this Feast.
[378] Marbach. in Levit. 25.
First, for the general release of Servants. Secondly, for the restoring of Lands and Tenements unto their first Owners, who formerly sold them. Thirdly, hereby a true distinction of their Tribes was preserved, because Lands returned unto their Owners in their proper Tribe, and Servants to their own Families. Fourthly, some are of opinion,[379] that as the Grecians did compute their times by the number of Olympiads, the Romans by their Lustra, the Christians by their Indictions: So the Jews by their Jubilees. Lastly, it did mystically shadow forth that spiritual Jubilee, which Christians enjoy under Christ, by whose blood we have not only a re-entry into the Kingdom of Heaven, which we had formerly forfeited by our sins (and this was haply signified by the Israelites re-entry upon their Lands formerly sold) but also the sound of the Gospel, which was in this Feast typed out unto us by the noise of the Trumpets, is gone thorowout the world. And thus the Lord God hath blown the Trumpet, as Zacharies phrase is, Zach. 9. 14. But neither this release of servants, nor restoring of Lands, was until the tenth day of the first month Tisri,[380] at which time it was proclaimed by the sound of Trumpets, or Rams horns; the nine first daies of this month the Servants feasted and made merry, and wore Garlands, in token of their liberty approaching.
[379] Hospinian. de Orig. fest. c. 9.