How was the land of Israel to be viewed?

As previously noted, the land in Israel could be leased but not sold in perpetuity (ṣᵉmiṯǔṯ). This Hebrew word occurs only here and in Leviticus 25:30. It is derived from the root verb which means, to destroy or to silence. Currid points out the term was used in Akkadian texts to indicate the final sale of a property.¹