יחזקאל, פרק מ״ו, פסוק י״ז

When a national leader transfers property to his servants, strict boundaries ensure that the ancestral family estate remains intact and does not fall into the hands of outsiders. If the leader grants a portion of his land as a gift to one of his servants, this transfer is never permanent. The servant retains possession of the land only temporarily, holding it until the year of liberty. This designated time is the Jubilee year, a period defined by its themes of freedom and release. Once the Jubilee arrives, the property automatically leaves the servant's possession and reverts to the leader.

The underlying purpose for this restriction is to protect the family lineage. The leader's estate is meant to be inherited exclusively by his sons, making it necessary for the land to return to the family rather than remaining permanently with a servant [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. The strict limitation emphasizes that the property belongs solely to the sons and must never be permanently transferred to strangers [רש״י, מלבי״ם]. Additionally, this restriction acts as a direct warning to the leader himself, reminding him that he must be content with his own designated property and refrain from seizing land that belongs to the people [מלבי״ם].

From a legal standpoint, this rule establishes a unique standard specifically for the leader. While there is a broader debate regarding whether ordinary gifts between regular citizens return to their original owners during the Jubilee year in the same way that sold lands do, the law for the leader is absolute. Even if he explicitly gives the land away as a gift, it must return to him when the Jubilee arrives. This guarantees that the estate will always remain securely within his family's possession [מלבי״ם].