ירמיהו, פרק ל״ד, פסוק י״ד

A profound moral and social failure echoes through the history of the Israelites, drawing a harsh rebuke from God regarding the treatment of servants. The requirement to grant freedom to Hebrew slaves was a core measure of the nation's spiritual health, and the failure to uphold it revealed a deep-seated pattern of disobedience that inevitably led to severe consequences.

The mandated period of servitude is strictly limited. A servant is to work for six full years, and freedom must be granted the moment the seventh year arrives [מצודת דוד, צאינה וראינה]. While descriptions of this timeframe might suggest the completion of seven years, the true intent refers to the very first edge or starting point of that seventh year, marking an immediate transition from servitude to liberty [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The ancestors of the Israelites demonstrated a severe level of defiance regarding this Commandment. Their failure was twofold: not only did they ignore God by neglecting the original instructions set forth in the Torah, but they also refused to pay attention to the prophets who were later sent to correct them [מלבי״ם]. Rather than improving their behavior, they simply disregarded the Commandment and allowed it to be violated [מצודת דוד].

This lack of commitment persisted throughout their history. Even on occasions when the people temporarily obeyed God and formed a covenant to release their servants, their resolve quickly crumbled. They went back on their word, forced the freed men and women back into slavery, and thereby profaned God's name. In response, God delivers a punishment based strictly on the principle of measure for measure. Since the Israelites refused to grant genuine liberty to their servants, God declares that He will set the nation free to face the sword, plague, and famine, ultimately abandoning them to the mercy of foreign kings [צאינה וראינה].