variable « setter « Java Class Q&A

1. Is a public setter necessary for private static variable?    stackoverflow.com

/* Atleast is it needed in this case?*/
 public class Service
{       
         private static List<String> subscribedFields;
  ...

2. Return old value from setter w/o temp variable using finally    stackoverflow.com

I was implementing the V setValue(V value) method in Map.Entry<K,V> and have done the following:

@Override public T setValue(T value) {
  try {
    return this.value;
  } finally ...

3. How to modify private static variable through setter method    stackoverflow.com

I have the following variable in a class named Example:

private static int number;