E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 21:20
punished = avenged. read more
ÊXodo 21:20 Arc
James Burton Coffman
Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 21:20-21
"And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall surely be punished. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished, for he is his money."This was a protective right granted to slaves that they should not be beaten to death! If that seems like a small blessing to us, let it be remembered that under the system in vogue all over the pagan world of that era, and extending down even until apostolic times, the Roman Law, in force... read more
Thomas Coke
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 21:20
Exodus 21:20. If a man smite his servant, &c.— The equity of these laws is apparent to every reader, though the Jewish Rabbis have done all they could to restrict and render them unworthy the Divine Lawgiver. The law here refers undoubtedly to servants in general, not to Hebrew ones only; cruelty to whom is forbidden, by appointing to that master, who should so beat his servant as to slay him upon the spot, the punishment due to a murderer. Calmet has well observed of how much higher and... read more
Thomas Constable
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 21:18-32
Bodily injuries 21:18-32Moses cited five cases in this section, as was true in the preceding one (Exodus 21:12-17). read more
Thomas Constable
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 21:20-21
As other people, slaves also enjoyed protection from murderers (Exodus 21:20; cf. Exodus 21:12). However the slave owner likewise experienced protection from execution if his punishment of a slave was not the direct cause of the slave’s death. In this case the law regarded the loss of the slave as sufficient punishment of the master (Exodus 21:21). read more
John Dummelow
John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:1-36
The Book of the Covenant (continued)I-ii. Regulations regarding the Treatment of Hebrew Slaves.Slavery was universal in ancient times, and the Mosaic Law does not abolish it. Among the Hebrews, however, slavery was by no means the degrading and oppressive thing that it was among other nations. Manstealing, upon which modern systems of slavery are based, was a crime punishable by death (see Exodus 21:16), and the Law of Moses recognises the right of a slave to just and honourable treatment. A... read more
Charles John Ellicott
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 21:20
(20) And if a man smite his servant.—The homicide hitherto considered has been that of freemen; but the Mosaic Law was not content to stop at this point. Unlike most other codes, it proceeded to forbid the homicide of slaves. Hitherto, throughout the East, and also in many parts of the West, slaves had been regarded as so absolutely their master’s property that he was entitled to do as he pleased with them. Now, for the first time—so far as we know—was the life of the slave protected. The exact... read more
William Nicoll
Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Exodus 21:1-36
Exodus 21:1 The Maker's Laws, whether they are promulgated in Sinai thunder, to the ear or imagination, or quite otherwise promulgated, are the Laws of God; transcendent, everlasting, demanding obedience from all men. The Universe is made by Law; the great Soul of the World is just and not unjust. Look then, if thou have eyes or soul left, into this Shoreless Incomprehensible; into the heart of its tumultuous Appearances, Embroilments and mad Time-Vortexes, is there not, silent, eternal, an... read more
William Nicoll
Expositor's Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:1-32
CHAPTER XXI.THE LESSER LAW (continued).PART II.--RIGHTS OF THE PERSON.Exodus 21:1-32.The first words of God from Sinai had declared that He was Jehovah Who brought them out of slavery. And in this remarkable code, the first person whose rights are dealt with is the slave. We saw that a denunciation of all slavery would have been premature, and therefore unwise; but assuredly the germs of emancipation were already planted by this giving of the foremost place to the rights of the least of all and... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:12-27
Concerning violence and injury (21:12-27)Death was the penalty for wilful murder, violence to parents and kidnapping for slavery. Israelite law did not allow the widespread ancient practice of a murderer trying to escape punishment by clinging to the horns of the altar and pleading for mercy. But cases of manslaughter were different. When the Israelites settled in their new homeland, they were to appoint certain places as cities of refuge, where a person guilty of manslaughter could find safety... read more