What are the connotations of the word "Mikeitz Sheva Shanim"?
Rashi, Ramban, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means at the end of the Sh'mitah. 1
What is this Pasuk coming to teach us?
Rashi and Ramban #1 (citing the Sifri): It refers to Sh'mitas Kesafim - to relinquish a debt that one is owed (not seven years after the loan, but) at the end 1 of the Sh'mitah year. 2
Ramban #2: It refers to Sh'mitas Karka 3 which one is obligated to observe in the last year of the seven-year cycle - like it says in Sh'mos 23:11 "ve'ha'Shevi'is Tishmetenah."
Ibn Ezra: With reference to Sh'mitas Kesafim, it refers to the beginning of the seventh year 4 - like we find by Hakhel. 5
Yerushalmi Rosh Hashanah, 1:2: The juxtaposition of "Sh'mitah" to "Shanim" teaches us that, like Shanim, Sh'mitah begins on the first of Tishri. 6
Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim: As opposed to "mi'Keitz Sheva Shanim Teshalchu" (Yirmiyah 34:14), which refers to the beginning of the seventh year, since an Eved Ivri serves only six years.
Rashi: As implied by "Karvah Sh'nas ha'Sheva" in Pasuk 9, which would make no sense if 'seven years' referred to each individual loan. Ramban (citing Erchin, 28b): Similar to "Mikeitz Sheva Shanim be'Mo'ed Sh'nas ha'Sh'mitah be'Chag ha'Sukos" in Vayeilech, 31:10 (in connection with the Mitzvah of Hakhel). See Ramban DH 've'Al Da'as Raboseinu' and DH 've'Efshar Lomar'.
Ramban: And the Torah adds the Din of Sh'mitas Kesafim in the next Pasuk.
Since loans are canceled in a moment, whereas Sh'mitas Karka applies over a period of time. He did not specify a period, and there is no source in the Pasuk to limit Sh'mitah to a certain time in the year.
See answer #1, note 2. See also Torah Temimah, note 1.
See Torah Temmah, note 2.
If the Pasuk is discussing Sh'mitas Kesafim (See previous question), why does it take place at the end of the year and not at the beginning, like the other Dinim of Sh'mitah?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because, of all the Dinim of Sh'mitah - difficult as they are to keep - the difficult of all is Sh'mitas Kesafim, where, not only does Reuven lose the money that he kindly lent to Shimon, but that Shimon gains it. Consequenly, the Torah postpones the cancelltion of the debt until the end of the year, when Reuven is exited at the prospect of regaining ownership of his land - to soften the bitterness. 1
See Oznayim la'Torah, DH 'Lo Yigos es Re'eihu ... ', who elaborates. See Oznayim laTorah, Ibid. - that this also exlaains why the Torah omited Hashmatas Kesafim from the other Dinim of Sh'mitah oin B'har, and mentioned it only here.
What is the meaning of "Ta'aseh Sh'mitah"?
