2.15 Zero-Coupon Bonds in the Bible

Leviticus, Chapter 25

Verse 44.    And as for thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, whom you may have of the nations that are around about you, of them shall you buy bondmen and bondmaids

45.    Moreover of the children of the strangers that sojourn among you, of them may you buy, and of their families that are with you, which they have begotten in your land; and they may be your possession.

46.    And you may make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession: of them may you take your bondmen forever; but over your brethren, the children of Israel, you shall not rule, one over another, with rigor.

47.    And if a stranger who is a settler with you becomes rich, and your brother be poor beside him, and sell himself unto the stranger who is a settler with you, or to the offshoot of a stranger’s family,

48.    …after he is sold, he may be redeemed; one of his brethren may redeem him.

49.    …or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any kin of his family may redeem him; or if he becomes rich, he may redeem himself.

50.    And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he sold himself to him unto the year of jubilee; and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years; according to the time of a hired servant shall he be with him.

51.    If there still be many years, according unto them he shall give back the price of his redemption – out of the money that he was bought for.

52.    And if there remain but a few years into the year of jubilee, then he shall reckon with him; according unto his years shall he give back the price of his redemption.