Derasha 2 on Behar 25:23

Parashas Behar · Aliyah 3 · Passuk 25:23

The Complete Passuk

וְהָאָ֗רֶץ לֹ֤א תִמָּכֵר֙ לִצְמִתֻ֔ת כִּי־לִ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־גֵרִ֧ים וְתוֹשָׁבִ֛ים אַתֶּ֖ם עִמָּדִֽי׃

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Torat Kohanim).

Core Text — Sifra

כִּי לִי הָאָרֶץ. אַל תַּרְאֶה עַצְמְךָ כְּבַעַל בַּיִת, אֶלָּא כְּגֵר.

English: “For the land is Mine.” Do not regard yourself as the owner, but as a stranger [sojourner].

Classical derasha (Sifra).

Ultimate ownership of the Land belongs to God; Israel’s tenure is that of residents and sojourners under divine sovereignty.