Deuteronomy 15:12-18

(4) SLAVERY (Deuteronomy 15:12-18)

12 If thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. 13 And when thou lettest him go free from thee, thou shalt not let him go empty: 14 thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy threshing-floor, and out of thy wine-press; as Jehovah thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. 15 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah thy God redeemed thee; therefore I command thee this thing today. 16 And itshall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go out from thee; because he loveth thee and thy house, because he is well with thee; 17 then thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maid-servant thou shalt do likewise. 18 It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou lettest him go free from thee; for to the double of the hire of a hireling hath he served thee six years: and Jehovah thy God will bless thee in all that thou doest.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 15:12-18

271.

Does this text sanction some form of slavery? Cf. Exodus 21:2-6; Leviticus 25:39-46.

272.

Why be careful to provide the livelihood of the former slave? Cf. Deuteronomy 15:18.

273.

Wasn-'t it unreasonable to expect anyone to become a lifetime slave? Discuss.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 15:12-18

12 And if your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold to you and serve you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you.
13 And when you send him out free from you, you shall not let him go away empty-handed;
14You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress; of what the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.

15 And you shall [earnestly] remember that you were a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I give you this command today.
16 But if the servant says to you, I will not go away from you, because he loves you and your household, since he does well with you.
17 Then take an awl and pierce his ear through to the door, and he shall be your servant always. And also to your bondwoman you shall do likewise.
18 It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you; for at half the cost of a hired servant he has served you six years, and the Lord your God will bless you in all you do.

COMMENT 15:12-18

Is this the same seventh year as referred to abovethe sabbath year? Probably not. It seems to refer to any six years during which the individual has been in bondage. As Deuteronomy 15:13-14 specify, this servant was not to be left to the elements, but the spirit of love was to prompt a generous furnishing of his needs, so he could set up house for himself. If, however, he desired to stay, he could, and would be branded as specified in Deuteronomy 15:16-17. Compare Exodus 21:2-6; also Leviticus 25:39-46.

IT SHALL NOT SEEM HARD FOR THEE (Deuteronomy 15:18)An appreciative and grateful spirit, as well as a generous one, should have kept the master from disobeying this law (Cf. Deuteronomy 15:9).

FOR TO THE DOUBLE OF THE HIRE OF A HIRELING HATH HE SERVED THEE (Deuteronomy 15:18)At half the cost of a hired servant (R.S.V., Amplified).. for at half the cost of a hired workman he has served you six years (Berkeley, and similarly rendered by several others). The master had used this man's services at a bargain pricenow let him show his appreciation and gratitude toward him.