Bible Commentary

And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters. 9. Second special case: if at the time of purchasing the woman, her master intends her for his son. If he designate her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the rights of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 21:9”

If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her. 8. First special case under the general law of v. 7: if a woman, bought with the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 21:8”

And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. 7. if a man sell his daughter ] as he easily might do, either from actual poverty, or because he was in such circumstances that it would be more advantageous for his daughter to be … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 21:7”

Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever. 6. unto God ] i.e. (if the rend. be correct: see below) to the nearest sanctuary … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 21:6”

And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: 5. plainly say ] ‘Plainly’ should be omitted. It is an attempt to represent in English the idiomatic use of the Hebrew inf. abs., which emphasizes the verb to which it is attached, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 21:5”

If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself. 4. The third case. If the master marries a slave to one of his female slaves, the wife remains her master’s slave as … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 21:4”

If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. 3. First and second of the special cases, viz. the cases (1) of an unmarried slave, and (2) of one married before he became a slave. There is no counterpart to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 21:3”

If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 2. If thou buy ] In the Heb. the primary cases ( vv. 2, 7, 20, 22 &c.) are introduced by ki, ‘when,’ the subordinate ones ( vv. 3a, 3b, 4, 5; 8, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 21:2”

Now these [are] the judgments which thou shalt set before them. 1. Now ] And introducing a new element in the collection, viz. the ‘judgements’ contained in Exo 21:2 to Exo 22:17. the judgements ] i.e. legal precedents, intended to have the force of law. The Heb. mishp means a judicial decision, (1) given in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 21:1”

Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon. 26. Steps are prohibited, because the command is addressed to the Israelite in general, who would sacrifice in his ordinary dress. In later times, when altars of larger size were constructed, a ledge (see on Exo 27:5), or … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 20:26”