What are the connotations of "va'Asher Yig'al min ha'Levi'im Veyatza ? ba'Yovel"?
Rashi #1: Here, "Yig'al" is referring to a purchase. If one purchases a house or a town 1 from a Levi, it reverts to the Levi in the Yovel. 2
Rashi #2 (citing the Sifra): It teaches us that (even) 3 if a Levi purchased the field or the house from a Levi, the seller may redeem it whenever he wishes, 4 and if he did not redeem it, it reverts to him in the Yovel.
Ramban #1 and Moshav Zekenim #1: This clarifies the previous Pasuk "Ge'ulas Olam Tih'yeh la'Levi'im." It teaches us that the seller himself or a relative may redeem the field or the house from the purchaser, It was sold until the Yovel; the redemption is based on the calculation of how many years have passed. 5
Ramban #2 and Moshav Zekenim #2 (both citing Erchin, 33a): It teaches us that, if a Levi purchases what his relative sold, it reverts to owner in the Yovel. 6
Rashbam: It refers to a Levi who wants to redeem his fields, 7 and the Torah is teaching us that if he does not possess the means to do so, it reverts to him anyway in the Yovel. 8
See Oznayim la'Torah on Pasuk 32 DH 've'Arei ha'Levi'im ... ', who queries Rashi on this point, since the towns ? and even the open spaces surrounding them, belong to the tribe and are not the property of any individual Levi to sell ? only the house and field that is alotted to him. And the possibility of all the Levi'im in the town selling their property is all but impossible.
Rashi (in Rosh Hashanah, 29a): Even Batei Arei Chomah, which, in the equivalent case of a Yisrael, remain with the buyer.
Rashi: In addditon to where a Yisrael bought it - in the previous Pasuk. See Torah Temimah citing Archin, 33b, and note 175.
As opposed to the house of a Yisrael in a walled town, which the purchaser may retain after one year.
Ramban: The custom for a close relative to buy what his relative sold is called 'Ge'ulah', like we find in Yirmiyah, 32:7 and in Rus 4:4, regarding Bo'az. The Torah did not teach so about a single sale, for "Ge'ulas Olam" gives to all rights of a Yisrael, and more. Perhaps a Levi may not sell his inheritance to a Yisrael.
Rashbam: In keeping with the previous Pasuk.
Refer to 25:33:1:1*.
Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise superfluous) word "Veyatza Mimkar Bayis ... "?
Bava Metzi'a, 109a: To preclude the improvements that the purchaser made which do not revert 1 to the owner in the Yovel. 2
Erchin, 33a: To preclude Hekdesh, which does not go out in the Yovel without Pidyon (redemption). 3
Having written "Mimkar", why does the Torah need to add "Bayis ve'Ir Achuzaso"?
Erchin, 33a: To preclude Avadim, Metalt'lin and Sh'taros, which do not revert to the owner in the Yovel.
Seeing as the sale of a town belonging to the Levi'im us all but impossible, what does the Torah mean when it writes "Veyatza Mimkar Bayis ve'Ir Achuzaso"?
Oznayim la'Torah (citing ha'Kesav ve'ha'Kabalah): The 'Vav' in "ve'Ir" means 'of', as if it had written "shel Ir Achuzaso". 1
A not uncommon interpretation of the prefix 'Vav' (Oznayim la'Torah, Ibid).
Seing as the Torah is discussing the property of Levi'im, why does it need to insert "Ki Batei Arei ha'Levi'im"?
Erchin, 33b: To teach us that the criterion is not purchasing from a Levi, but purchasing the property of a Levi. Consequently, a Yisrael who inherited from his maternal grandfather who was a Levi redeems like a Levi, whereas a Levi who inherits his maternal grandfather who was a Yisrael redeems like a Yisrael. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 178.
Why is the Din regarding a Levi selling a house different than that of a Yisrael?
Rashi: Because the Levi'im do not have a possession of fields and vineyards like Yisre'elim, only towns with their open spaces. 1 Therefore the Torah gives their houses the Din of fields, to redeem at all times, 2 to ensure that their inheritance remains intact.
Oznayim la'Torah: a. because the Levi'im are prohibitted from expanding their towns, however crowded they become and b. because they serve as towns of refuge for the whole of Yisrael thereby adding to the crowded conditions of the town ? Therefore the Torah is lenient on the Levi'im who reside there, permitting them to redeem their fields and houses under all circumstances. 3
