If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.If thou buy an Hebrew servant — Either sold by him or his parents through poverty, or by the judges for his crimes, yet even such a one was to continue in slavery but seven years at the most. read more
Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.For ever — As long as he lives, or till the year of Jubilee. read more
If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.Who hath betrothed her to himself — For a concubine, or secondary Wife. Not that Masters always took Maid-servants on these terms. read more
And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.After the manner of daughters — He shall give her a portion, as to a daughter. read more
And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. Direction is given what should be done, if a servant died by his master's correction. This servant must not be an Israelite, but a Gentile slave, as the Negroes to our planters; and it is supposed that he smite him with a rod, and not with any thing that was likely to give a mortal wound, yet if he died under his hand, he should be punished for his cruelty, at the discretion of the... read more
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,Eye for eye — The execution of this law is not put into the hands of private persons, as if every man might avenge himself, which would introduce universal confusion. The tradition of the elders seems to have put this corrupt gloss upon it. But magistrates had an eye to this rule in punishing offenders, and doing right to those that are injured. read more
1. The judgments which thou shalt set before them As distinguished from the words spoken directly from heaven . Judgments are here to be understood as decisions of law, or judicial statutes and regulations to govern in the administration of justice . These were the rules of judgment by which the rights of individuals were to be maintained and civil order secured . read more
THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT, Exodus 20:22 to Exodus 23:33. Here follows a collection of sundry laws which were compiled by Moses, and doubtless represent the oldest written legislation of the Pentateuch. This compilation probably constituted “the book of the covenant” which is mentioned in Exodus 24:7. Kalisch classifies the laws under three heads: (1 . ) Those touching the rights of persons, Exodus 21:1-32; (2 . ) Those touching the rights of property, Exodus 21:33 to Exodus 23:14; and (3 . )... read more
2. Buy a Hebrew servant In the time of Moses slavery existed among all the nations, and commonly in most oppressive forms . The Israelites themselves had just escaped a bondage of serfdom in Egypt . The Hebrew patriarchs had owned many slaves who inter-married and begat children, and these were regarded as the property of the patriarchal chieftain . Comp . Genesis 14:14. The Mosaic legislation was adapted to mitigate the evils of the system, and provided for universal emancipation .... read more
Obtenga el versículo bíblico diario todos los días en su bandeja de entrada
Leer en el móvil
Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Exodus 21:1
Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.The first verse is the general title of the laws contained in this and the two following chapters. Their government being purely a theocracy; that which in other states is to be settled by human prudence, was directed among them by a divine appointment. These laws are called judgments; because their magistrates were to give judgment according to them. In the doubtful cases that had hitherto occurred, Moses had particularly enquired... read more