Deuteronomy 15:1

At the end of seven years you shall make a Release.

At the boundary of seven years you will arrange a release denotes the beginning of the year, as is corroborated by the passage of “assemble the people” [31: 12]. The passage is connected to the previous one because, having mentioned that the Pauper’s Tithe belongs to the Levite, and the alien, and the orphan, and the widow [cf. 14: 29], it is now logical to discuss the general release. release [Hebrew: shmiṭṭah] from “drop her” [Hebrew: shimṭuhah] [II Kings 9: 33]: i.e., they released her, and she fell.

‘MIKEITZ’ OF SEVEN YEARS THOU SHALT MAKE ‘SH’MITAH.’ The correct interpretation appears to me that he is warning about the seventh year itself, that we make it a Sabbatical [refraining] from plowing, [sowing] and reaping, just as He said, But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie fallow, this being the meaning of thou shalt make ‘sh’mitah,’ that “you should rest,” similar to the expression, to keep the Sabbath-day. He abridged the prohibitions of sowing and pruning because He expressly mentioned them already, but he supplemented [what was previously said] to explain that it is a ‘sh’mitah’ of the Eternal also in regards to the release of moneys. This is the sense of the expression, because it is proclaimed ‘the remission’ of the Eternal, which is similar to a Sabbath unto the Eternal, and all works are to cease. I have already alluded to its secret.
Now Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra commented [that the meaning of the word mikeitz is] “at the beginning of the year.” And so say all grammarians. that the beginning and end of something are each called katzeh, since there are two extremities to each thing, similar to what is written, from ‘hakatzeh’ (end) to ‘hakatzeh’ (end); of the two ends thereof;, 25:19. in the four ends thereof., 27:4. But the words [of the grammarians and Ibn Ezra] do not seem correct to me. For “the beginning of seven years” denotes the first year [of the Sabbatical cycle], this being the katzeh which is called rosh (the beginning)! Now had Scripture said, “mikeitz of the seventh year” their interpretation would have been correct [for then the verse would mean “at the beginning of the seventh year you shall make sh’mitah.” Instead, however, Scripture says, “‘Mikeitz’ of seven years thou shalt make ‘sh’mitah’” which according to them means “at the beginning of seven years,” i.e., in the first year you shall make the sh’mitah, which cannot be correct]! And in the opinion of our Rabbis 111. mikeitz means “at the end of the seven years,” and Scripture speaks only of the release of money [i.e., the remission of debts], stating “at the end of all seven years counted by you [as a Sabbatical cycle] you shall make a release, that every creditor shall release that which he hath lent unto his neighbor, ” and it is therefore that the Rabbis have said that the Seventh …