(1) Overview
(NET) A precept is stated, and then various cases in which the law is applicable are examined. These rulings are all in harmony with the Decalogue that has just been given and can be grouped into three categories: civil or criminal laws, religious or cultic laws, and moral or humanitarian laws. The civil and criminal laws make up most of chap. 21; the next two chapters mix the other kinds of laws.
(2) 1st main law:
(2) 1st main law:
21:2 “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years, but in the seventh year he will go out free without paying anything.
one of the cases:
one of the cases:
After the male salve served for 6 years he would choose to stay because he loved his master, his wife and his children. He has the freedom to choose, but he chose to be a slave forever v.6 because of love.
Reflection: Believers have the freedom to choose, whether we choose to be the slave of sin again or we choose to be the slave of righteousness Rom 6:16. We chose to be the slave of righteousness because we love our Lord.
(2) 2nd main law:
21:7 “If a man sells his daughter as a female servant, she will not go out as the male servants do.
(NET) refers to a female servant who would eventually become a concubine or wife; the sale price included the amount for the service as well as the bride price (see B. Jacob, Exodus, 621). The arrangement recognized her honor as an Israelite woman, one who could be a wife, even though she entered the household in service. The marriage was not automatic, as the conditions show, but her treatment was safeguarded come what may. The law was a way, then, for a poor man to provide a better life for a daughter.
...This paragraph is troubling to modern readers, but given the way that marriages were contracted and the way people lived in the ancient world, it was a good provision for people who might want to find a better life for their daughter.
Note, the man who sold his daughter was a poor father who could not afford her. However, God also has law to protect this family.
Note, the man who sold his daughter was a poor father who could not afford her. However, God also has law to protect this family.
First, if the marriage was not going to happen, then the master could not resell her another master v.8, perhaps her father if he can, or another...she can redeem herself and dissolve the relationship. Women are valued as a person, not a merchandise in God's eye.
Second, once she was designated as the future wife of the master's son her rights were preserved even the son later on married another woman.
21:9 If he designated her for his son, then he will deal with her according to the customary rights of daughters. 21:10 If he takes another wife, he must not diminish the first one’s food, her clothing, or her marital rights.
(NET) The translation of “food” does not quite do justice to the Hebrew word. It is “flesh.” The issue here is that the family she was to marry into is wealthy, they ate meat. She was not just to be given the basic food the ordinary people ate, but the fine foods that this family ate.
(NET) The translation of “food” does not quite do justice to the Hebrew word. It is “flesh.” The issue here is that the family she was to marry into is wealthy, they ate meat. She was not just to be given the basic food the ordinary people ate, but the fine foods that this family ate.
...[marital right] See S. Paul, “Exodus 21:10, A Threefold Maintenance Clause,” JNES 28 (1969): 48–53. Paul suggests that the third element listed is not marital rights but ointments since Sumerian and Akkadian texts list food, clothing, and oil as the necessities of life. The translation of “marital rights” is far from certain, since the word occurs only here. The point is that the woman was to be cared for with all that was required for a woman in that situation.
In other words, even though she was a poor girl sold to be a slave, her dignity was maintained. Her master could not deceit her and said she would be the master's son's wife and then changed their mind again and treated her like a slave.
(NET) The lessons of slavery and service are designed to bring justice to existing customs in antiquity. The message is: Those in slavery for one reason or another should have the hope of freedom and the choice of service (vv. 2–6). For the rulings on the daughter, the message could be: Women, who were often at the mercy of their husbands or masters, must not be trapped in an unfortunate situation, but be treated well by their masters or husbands (vv. 7–11). God is preventing people who have power over others from abusing it.
Reflection: How do we treat poor people? Do we look down to anyone just because they have less money than we are? Or just because they work for us?
Or do we deceit our employees/people who work for you
by giving them false hope? Do we abuse our power over anyone? Do we deceit anyone?
Do we see the value of people in general?
Audrey
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