12 In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property.
The Year of Jubilee happens every 50 years. During this year all debt is cancelled and all property, except houses in walled cities, is returned to their original owner. If anything is sold during the other 49 years, the value is prorated based on the number of years remaining until the Jubilee, since it will be returned during that year. This simple rule prevented permanent generational poverty. Every 50 years everyone got their land back, and land was and is tangible wealth. It doesn’t mean that wisdom came with the property. If the individuals involved were not good stewards before the return of their property, they suddenly don’t gain financial wisdom. To put it in modern terms, people who win the lottery generally are worse off after their money runs out than before their winnings. Wealth does not guarantee financial wisdom. The sad thing is, the Israelites never observed the Year of Jubilee.
The Arnold Journey 