Exodus 21:2-11

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 theft or insolvency, or through poverty (p. 110). Later stages of law are reflected in Deuteronomy 15:12 * and Leviticus 25:39 *. A male slave by six years'service earned the right to rest from servitude in the seventh year, his wife accompanying him only if he were already married (Exodus 21:3 f.), but if he could say, in the terms of a customary oath, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free (Exodus 21:5), then he could become a slave for life. The ratifying ceremony was the boring of the ear, the symbol of obedience, to the door or doorpost (Exodus 21:6), obviously that of the home in which he was to serve. That being so, the bringing of him unto God will not mean to the sanctuary but to the home-altar, the threshold (Exodus 12:22 *), or (so Kautzsch, HDB, vol. 5, p. 642) to the teraphim (p. 101) or household image of Yahweh (cf. 1 Samuel 19:13; 1 Samuel 19:16). A female slave had no such right (Exodus 21:7); but if she did not suit the man who had designed her for himself (i.e. as his concubine), her relatives might redeem her, or she might be sold to another Israelite (Exodus 21:8); and if he bought her for his son, she should have a daughter's rights (Exodus 21:9). If she were supplanted by another concubine he must maintain her allowance of flesh food and of clothing and her conjugal rights, or free her (Exodus 21:10 f.). Driver also discusses a slightly different view (CB, p. 214).