The public covenant made by the returnees to Zion represents a strict, self-imposed commitment to observe the Sabbath, the holidays, and the Sabbatical year. This pledge was designed to intentionally correct specific areas where the nation had historically failed. The first major commitment addresses commerce on sacred days. The people declare they will not purchase merchandise from the surrounding gentile nations [שטיינזלץ]. This includes any goods bought with money [רש״י, אבן עזרא, שטיינזלץ], with a specific focus on grain such as wheat and barley [רש״י, אבן עזרא, סעדיה גאון], though some commentators broaden this to encompass all forms of purchasing [רלב״ג].
This ban on trade applies not only to the Sabbath but also to all holy days and festivals [רש״י, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ]. Notably, this marks the first time an explicit prohibition against conducting business on the Sabbath appears. It reflects a self-accepted restriction on buying and selling, a rule not explicitly detailed in the original laws of the Torah [שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם].
The second part of the public pledge focuses on the laws of the seventh year. The people commit to completely abandoning agricultural work and leaving the produce of the land ownerless, available for anyone to take [רש״י, רלב״ג]. This specific commandment is emphasized because the nation had previously failed to observe the laws of the Sabbatical year during the First Temple period, a failure for which they were sharply criticized [רלב״ג].
Furthermore, this commitment serves to clarify that the laws of the seventh year remain fully in effect even in the absence of the Jubilee year. This addresses and rejects the perspective that the Sabbatical year is dependent on the Jubilee, which is only observed when all the people of Israel reside in their land [מלבי״ם]. Finally, the pledge extends to financial matters. The people accept the obligation to release all personal debts, officially forgiving any loans as dictated by the financial laws of the seventh year [רש״י, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ].