Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 34:9
That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, [being] a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, [to wit], of a Jew his brother.
9. serve himself of them ] The poverty, arising out of the devastation wrought by repeated wars, must have brought about a large amount of servitude, as was the case e.g. in later times. See Neh 5:5, and on Jer 30:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This was the tenor of Gods law mentioned in the above named texts; and it seemeth Zedekiah, taking notice of the common violation of this law, and the Jews ordinary oppressing those of their own nation this way, judging that this might be one of those sins for which the wrath of God was at this time kindled against them, he caused the people to make a covenant, that they would give that liberty to their servants of either sex which the law of God required, of which he made proclamation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. none . . . serve himself of aJew (Le 25:39-46).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, [being] an Hebrew, or an Hebrewess, go free,…. This is the proclamation that was agreed to be made, that every manservant and maidservant, that serve six years an apprenticeship, should be freed from their servitude, according to the law in Ex 21:1; a law founded upon justice and equity, mercy and compassion; done for the honour of the Jewish nation, that they might be a free people, and in commemoration of their deliverance from their servitude in Egypt. This law, as it seems, had been long neglected, and servants had been retained in bondage beyond their due time, through the oppression and covetousness of their masters, and the neglect of the civil magistrates; who should have took care that such a law was put in execution, and that servants were not oppressed. Some have thought that it was at the beginning of the sabbatical year that this proclamation was made, when, according to the law, there should be a release of servants, De 15:1; but that was not a release of servants, but of debts; for if a servant had not served out his time, the sabbatical year, or year of release, did not discharge him; though the year of jubilee did, according to Maimonides l, who says,
“if the year of release happens in any of the six years, he (the servant) serves in it; but if the year of jubilee happens within the time, even though he has been sold but one year before it, he is free;”
that none should serve himself of them, [to wit], of a Jew his brother; or cause them to serve him, oblige them against their will to continue in his service; or by any means avail himself of them, and receive to himself any profit or advantage by their service, they being Jews and brethren; which seems to be added, both as the reason of the law, because they were brethren of the same nation and religion with them, and to distinguish them from other servants, who notwithstanding this law might be retained as such.
l Hilchot Abadim, c. 2. sect. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Jer 34:9 That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, [being] an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, [to wit], of a Jew his brother.
Ver. 9. That every man should let his manservant. ] Should manumit and dismiss him at six years’ end, according to the law. Exo 21:1-2 The seventh year a was called the year of liberty, and then they were to let go their brethren that served them, and this in a thankful remembrance of their deliverance from the Egyptian servitude. But this they had neglected to do; and now, to pacify God’s wrath, and to prevent, if it might be, the Chaldeans’ cruelty, this coarse they took, and not altogether without success, for the siege was thereupon raised for a season; and had they returned to God with all their heart and with all their soul, who knows what might have been further done for them? But they did nothing less; therefore came wrath upon them to the utmost.
a Hic septimus annus fuit typus aeternae liberationis post curriculum sex dierum mundi, sex mille annorum.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
every man. Hebrew. ‘ish. App-14.
go free. See note on Jer 34:8, and compare verses: Jer 34:21, Jer 34:22, which show that this covenant was made during a temporary withdrawal of the besiegers, on account of the Egyptians (Jer 37:5).
serve himself of them = use them as bondservants.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Hebrew: Gen 14:13, Gen 40:15, Exo 2:6, Exo 3:18, Deu 15:12, 1Sa 4:6, 1Sa 4:9, 1Sa 14:11, 2Co 11:22, Phi 3:5
serve: Jer 34:10, Jer 25:14, Jer 27:7, Jer 30:8, 1Co 6:8
Reciprocal: Isa 58:3 – exact Jer 34:14 – At the Col 4:1 – give
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 34:9. The law of release referred to is in Lev, 25: 39-46, This was in consideration for the hard times that might he thrust upon them.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
34:9 That every man should release his male {e} servant, and every man his female servant, [being] a Hebrew man or woman; that none should retain them in service, [that is], a Jew his brother.
(e) According to the law, Exo 21:2, De 15:12 .