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. Man... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU BUY AN HEBREW SERVANT] A man might voluntarily sell himself for debt (Leviticus 25:39), or he might be judicially sold for theft (see Exodus 22:3), or he might be sold by his parents (Exodus 21:7). If the year of Jubilee fell before the seventh year of his servitude he went free then: see Le... [ Continue Reading ]
IF HE WERE MARRIED] before coming into slavery. If he married after becoming a slave, the case contemplated in the next verse, he would do so subject to the consent of his master, in which case the wife and children remained with the master.... [ Continue Reading ]
Slavery may be preferable to freedom. This shows the mild nature of slavery among the Hebrews.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE JUDGES] RV 'unto God.' The expressions are really identical, for the judges would be the priests, or the high priest, and the transaction would take place at the sanctuary and have the sanction of the divine judgment: see on Exodus 22:8; Exodus 22:28; RV. BORE HIS EAR] The fastening of the... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BE A MAIDSERVANT] The word denotes a slavewife, a consort of inferior rank, like Hagar (Genesis 16:3). Her position was permanent. She did not go out at the end of six years, which would have been a degradation. If she were the wife of the master of the house, she was to be treated as a wife; if... [ Continue Reading ]
Polygamy, like slavery, was tolerated by the Law of Moses. Its cessation in Christian lands has naturally followed the nobler teaching of Christianity regarding woman: cp. the remarks on the cessation of slavery. 12-17. Three Offences Punishable by Death, viz. murder, manstealing, and the smiting o... [ Continue Reading ]
For the appointment of cities of refuge as an asylum in the case of accidental homicide, see on Numbers 35:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM MINE ALTAR] The altar seems to have been the place of refuge at first: see 1 Kings 1:50; 1 Kings 2:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
SMITETH] not necessarily with fatal effect. Reverence towards parents was regarded in ancient times as more a religious than a social duty, and a breach of the fifth commandment, like blasphemy, was a capital offence: see intro. to the Decalogue, and cp. Deuteronomy 21:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
Manstealing is to be punished as severely as murder.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cursing, like blessing, is always looked upon as efficacious. It is a solemn appeal to God, who will not permit His name to be taken in vain. He will not respond to the child who invokes His power to the injury of a father or mother. And such an impious appeal is itself a serious crime. 18-32. The... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL.. BE QUIT] i.e. of the charge of murder. But he must pay for the injured man's loss of time and medical treatment.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE _IS_ HIS MONEY] The master himself loses by his servant's inability to work, and is sufficiently punished in this way. If the injury is of a permanent nature the slave is entitled to his freedom: see Exodus 21:26; Exodus 21:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ANY_ MISCHIEF] beyond the loss of the child (Exodus 21:22). The law of retaliation ('like for like') is common to all early stages of civilisation: cp. e.g. art. 'Laws of Hammurabi.' It is a rough and ready kind of justice, but it involves many difficulties and is generally abandoned in favour of a... [ Continue Reading ]
The following enactments are a good illustration of the spirit of even-handed justice displayed by the Mosaic Law: cp. Genesis 9:5. His flesh shall not be eaten] This would serve to emphasise the horror connected with such an accidental death. It was also in accordance with the law forbidding the ea... [ Continue Reading ]
In this case the owner is morally responsible and is liable to be put to death. The death penalty may, however, be commuted by a fine, the amount of which would be fixed by the relatives of the person killed, with probably an appeal to the judges.... [ Continue Reading ]
The silver shekel was in value a little more than half-a-crown. The ordinary price of a slave, therefore, was about £3 10s.: cp. Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15. From the latter passage it will be seen that our Lord's life was reckoned of the same value as that of a slave. 33-C. EXODUS 22:15. Law of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEAD _beast_ SHALL BE HIS] It is assumed that he has paid the full value of the live animal.... [ Continue Reading ]