III. ISRAEL AT SINAI ( XIX.- XL.). The division Num 19- 40 presents difficulties due to its very importance, _see_ introduction to Ex. (last paragraph). But Num 25- 31, 35- 40 readily fall apart from the rest, as containing P's account of the Tabernacle (_see_ on Exodus 25:1), the introduction to wh... [ Continue Reading ]
EXODUS 21:1 E. THE JUDGMENTS. This is best taken as the heading of a fresh collection, The Judgments (p. 184), consisting of case-law, mainly about property, and containing some striking parallels with the CODE OF HAMMURABÎ (_see_ p. 51, HDB, vol. 5, pp. 584- 612, and Johns-' _Babylonian and Assyria... [ Continue Reading ]
EXODUS 21:2 E. THE LAWS OF SLAVERY. In the 19th cent. slaves were bought and sold as chattels in Liverpool. Here we see one of the stages towards the abolition of slavery, _i.e._ regulation, then the only practicable course. Hebrews might become slaves through sale by parents, or forced sale for the... [ Continue Reading ]
EXODUS 21:12 E. CAPITAL OFFENCES. This group, varying in form from the main body of the Judgments, is here regarded as a part of the smaller Book of the Covenant (p. 184). The punishment of murder was death (Exodus 21:12), inflicted in Israel, as elsewhere, according to the widespread custom of bloo... [ Continue Reading ]
EXODUS 21:18 E. INJURIES. If one man injures another in a quarrel (Exodus 21:18), he must, on the recovery of the other, compensate him for the loss of time and pay his doctor's bill (Exodus 21:19). He who beat a slave to death must pay a penalty (Exodus 21:20), no doubt fixed at the judge's discret... [ Continue Reading ]
EXODUS 21:28 E. DAMAGES BY OR TO CATTLE. An ox goring anyone to death must be stoned, and might not be eaten, as tainted with blood-guilt (Exodus 21:28). In ancient Greece and elsewhere, and even in mediæ val Europe, animals were tried in court. But the owner of an ox known to be vicious, and yet le... [ Continue Reading ]