Masei: *If* Yovel Comes??

In the heads of Gilead's complaint regarding the potential loss of property to the tribe given the Benot Tzelophchad innovation, they state {Bemidbar 36}:

ג וְהָיוּ לְאֶחָד מִבְּנֵי שִׁבְטֵי בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְנָשִׁים, וְנִגְרְעָה נַחֲלָתָן מִנַּחֲלַת אֲבֹתֵינוּ, וְנוֹסַף עַל נַחֲלַת הַמַּטֶּה אֲשֶׁר תִּהְיֶינָה לָהֶם; וּמִגֹּרַל נַחֲלָתֵנוּ, יִגָּרֵעַ.	3 And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of our fathers, and will be added to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they shall belong; so will it be taken away from the lot of our inheritance.
ד וְאִם-יִהְיֶה הַיֹּבֵל, לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְנוֹסְפָה נַחֲלָתָן, עַל נַחֲלַת הַמַּטֶּה אֲשֶׁר תִּהְיֶינָה לָהֶם; וּמִנַּחֲלַת מַטֵּה אֲבֹתֵינוּ, יִגָּרַע נַחֲלָתָן.	4 And when the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be, then will their inheritance be added unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they shall belong; so will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.'

We might more literally translate as "and if the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be." But how could that be? After all, yovel is a regular institution, to occur every 50th year!

In fact, im as "when," as translated by JPS, is perfectly acceptable. They are just stating that even Yovel, which generally brings back property to its original owner, will not work here to that end.

The Midrash (Torat Kohanim), cited by Rashi, makes use of this peculiarity:

From here R. Judah said: The Jubilee is destined to cease. — [Torath Kohanim 13:1]

such that they allow for the possibility and eventually of no Yovel.

We might point out how in Shofetim, the perpetual slave serves leOlam, where later this is clarified that he serves until Yovel, and suggest it is of a kind. But on the other hand, we really should not make too much of the word im used in this context -- it merely means "when." Or "even if we impose this interaction."

Ibn Ezra writes ואפילו שיהיה היובל לא נקוה לשוב הנחלה אלינו, focusing on the "and even though that there is a Yovel."

Quasi-related to all of this is an incident in Yirmeyahu in which King Tzidkeyahu declared a Deror, a "liberty," essentially freeing all Hebrew servants. Indeed, in the ancient world, it was often custom to declare such a "liberty" or Jubilee, especially at the beginning of a new king's reign (though Seder Olam places this in the seventh year of King Tzidkiyahu), with freedom for servants and cancellation of debts, and property returning to its initial owner, who sold it in debt.

This only mentions freeing of slaves, and this is quite short-lived, with a criticism of this fact. If you haven't read it before, this is a good read -- a Biblical statement against slavery. Yirmeyahu 34:

ח הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר-הָיָה אֶל-יִרְמְיָהוּ, מֵאֵת ה--אַחֲרֵי כְּרֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ צִדְקִיָּהוּ בְּרִית, אֶת-כָּל-הָעָם אֲשֶׁר בִּירוּשָׁלִַם, לִקְרֹא לָהֶם, דְּרוֹר.	8 The word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people that were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;
ט לְשַׁלַּח אִישׁ אֶת-עַבְדּוֹ וְאִישׁ אֶת-שִׁפְחָתוֹ, הָעִבְרִי וְהָעִבְרִיָּה--חָפְשִׁים: לְבִלְתִּי עֲבָד-בָּם בִּיהוּדִי אָחִיהוּ, אִישׁ.	9 that every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, go free; that none should make bondmen of them, even of a Jew his brother;
י וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ כָל-הַשָּׂרִים וְכָל-הָעָם אֲשֶׁר-בָּאוּ בַבְּרִית, לְשַׁלַּח אִישׁ אֶת-עַבְדּוֹ וְאִישׁ אֶת-שִׁפְחָתוֹ חָפְשִׁים, לְבִלְתִּי עֲבָד-בָּם, עוֹד; וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ, וַיְשַׁלֵּחוּ.	10 and all the princes and all the people hearkened, that had entered into the covenant to let every one his man-servant, and every one his maid-servant, go free, and not to make bondmen of them any more; they hearkened, and let them go;
יא וַיָּשׁוּבוּ, אַחֲרֵי-כֵן, וַיָּשִׁבוּ אֶת-הָעֲבָדִים וְאֶת-הַשְּׁפָחוֹת, אֲשֶׁר שִׁלְּחוּ חָפְשִׁים; ויכבישום (וַיִּכְבְּשׁוּם), לַעֲבָדִים וְלִשְׁפָחוֹת. {פ}	11 but afterwards they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids; {P}
יב וַיְהִי דְבַר-ה אֶל-יִרְמְיָהוּ, מֵאֵת ה לֵאמֹר.	12 therefore the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying:
יג כֹּה-אָמַר ה, אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: אָנֹכִי, כָּרַתִּי בְרִית אֶת-אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם, בְּיוֹם הוֹצִאִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים לֵאמֹר.	13 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying:
יד מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים תְּשַׁלְּחוּ אִישׁ אֶת-אָחִיו הָעִבְרִי אֲשֶׁר-יִמָּכֵר לְךָ, וַעֲבָדְךָ שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים, וְשִׁלַּחְתּוֹ חָפְשִׁי, מֵעִמָּךְ; וְלֹא-שָׁמְעוּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם אֵלַי, וְלֹא הִטּוּ אֶת-אָזְנָם.	14 'At the end of seven years ye shall let go every man his brother that is a Hebrew, that hath been sold unto thee, and hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee'; but your fathers hearkened not unto Me, neither inclined their ear.
טו וַתָּשֻׁבוּ אַתֶּם הַיּוֹם, וַתַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת-הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינַי, לִקְרֹא דְרוֹר, אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ; וַתִּכְרְתוּ בְרִית, לְפָנַי, בַּבַּיִת, אֲשֶׁר-נִקְרָא שְׁמִי עָלָיו.	15 And ye were now turned, and had done that which is right in Mine eyes, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before Me in the house whereon My name is called;
טז וַתָּשֻׁבוּ, וַתְּחַלְּלוּ אֶת-שְׁמִי, וַתָּשִׁבוּ אִישׁ אֶת-עַבְדּוֹ וְאִישׁ אֶת-שִׁפְחָתוֹ, אֲשֶׁר-שִׁלַּחְתֶּם חָפְשִׁים לְנַפְשָׁם; וַתִּכְבְּשׁוּ אֹתָם--לִהְיוֹת לָכֶם, לַעֲבָדִים וְלִשְׁפָחוֹת. {ס}	16 but ye turned and profaned My name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had let go free at their pleasure, to return; and ye brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids. {S}
יז לָכֵן, כֹּה-אָמַר ה, אַתֶּם לֹא-שְׁמַעְתֶּם אֵלַי, לִקְרֹא דְרוֹר אִישׁ לְאָחִיו וְאִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ; הִנְנִי קֹרֵא לָכֶם דְּרוֹר נְאֻם-ה, אֶל-הַחֶרֶב אֶל-הַדֶּבֶר וְאֶל-הָרָעָב, וְנָתַתִּי אֶתְכֶם לזועה (לְזַעֲוָה), לְכֹל מַמְלְכוֹת הָאָרֶץ.	17 Therefore thus saith the LORD: Ye have not hearkened unto Me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbour; behold, I proclaim for you a liberty, saith the LORD, unto the sword, unto the pestilence, and unto the famine; and I will make you a horror unto all the kingdoms of the earth.
יח וְנָתַתִּי אֶת-הָאֲנָשִׁים, הָעֹבְרִים אֶת-בְּרִתִי, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-הֵקִימוּ אֶת-דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית, אֲשֶׁר כָּרְתוּ לְפָנָי--הָעֵגֶל אֲשֶׁר כָּרְתוּ לִשְׁנַיִם, וַיַּעַבְרוּ בֵּין בְּתָרָיו.	18 And I will give the men that have transgressed My covenant, that have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in twain and passed between the parts thereof;
יט שָׂרֵי יְהוּדָה וְשָׂרֵי יְרוּשָׁלִַם, הַסָּרִסִים וְהַכֹּהֲנִים, וְכֹל, עַם הָאָרֶץ--הָעֹבְרִים, בֵּין בִּתְרֵי הָעֵגֶל.	19 the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the officers, and the priests, and all the people of the land, that passed between the parts of the calf;
כ וְנָתַתִּי אוֹתָם בְּיַד אֹיְבֵיהֶם, וּבְיַד מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשָׁם; וְהָיְתָה נִבְלָתָם לְמַאֲכָל, לְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וּלְבֶהֱמַת הָאָרֶץ.	20 I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life; and their dead bodies shall be for food unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.
כא וְאֶת-צִדְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ-יְהוּדָה וְאֶת-שָׂרָיו, אֶתֵּן בְּיַד אֹיְבֵיהֶם, וּבְיַד, מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשָׁם; וּבְיַד, חֵיל מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל, הָעֹלִים, מֵעֲלֵיכֶם.	21 And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, that are gone up from you.
כב הִנְנִי מְצַוֶּה נְאֻם-ה, וַהֲשִׁבֹתִים אֶל-הָעִיר הַזֹּאת וְנִלְחֲמוּ עָלֶיהָ, וּלְכָדוּהָ, וּשְׂרָפֻהָ בָאֵשׁ; וְאֶת-עָרֵי יְהוּדָה אֶתֵּן שְׁמָמָה, מֵאֵין יֹשֵׁב. {פ}	22 Behold, I will command, saith the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant. {P}

They apparently even disregarded the command to free at seven years, and apparently also during Yovel, such that this Deror, "liberty," was necessary. Yet they somehow got around it.

One interesting point -- I've argued elsewhere that when Chazal put tens of conditions on the case of the perpetual Hebrew slave, they do so in order to effectively legislate it out of existence, just as by the Ben Sorer uMoreh. And the culmination of this is the statement that the perpetual slave gets his ear pierced, because the ear that heard in Egypt "'Ki Li Benei Yisrael Avadim,' velo avadim leAvadim" "'For to Me {=Hashem} are the children of Israel servants,' and not servants to servants."

A neo-drasha on this pasuk in Yirmeyahu:

יג כֹּה-אָמַר ה, אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: אָנֹכִי, כָּרַתִּי בְרִית אֶת-אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם, בְּיוֹם הוֹצִאִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים לֵאמֹר.	13 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying:
יד מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים תְּשַׁלְּחוּ אִישׁ אֶת-אָחִיו הָעִבְרִי אֲשֶׁר-יִמָּכֵר לְךָ, וַעֲבָדְךָ שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים, וְשִׁלַּחְתּוֹ חָפְשִׁי, מֵעִמָּךְ; וְלֹא-שָׁמְעוּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם אֵלַי, וְלֹא הִטּוּ אֶת-אָזְנָם.	14 'At the end of seven years ye shall let go every man his brother that is a Hebrew, that hath been sold unto thee, and hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee'; but your fathers hearkened not unto Me, neither inclined their ear.

Thus slavery was supposed to be restricted to this limited servitude, which was essentially a six-year work contract. And someone who doesn't listen וְלֹא הִטּוּ אֶת-אָזְנָם. So too the perpetual slave ignored this concept and thus it is poetic recompense. Or else we could take וְלֹא הִטּוּ אֶת-אָזְנָם as something that they didn't do -- they are not hearkening to this limited slavery, and are imposing perpetual slavery even in the absence of the regulations of הִטּוּ אֶת-אָזְנָם