A Hebrew might be sold as a bondman in consequence either of debt Leviticus 25:39 or of the commission of theft Exodus 22:3. But his servitude could not be enforced for more than six full years. Compare the marginal references. read more
If a married man became a bondman, his rights in regard to his wife were respected: but if a single bondman accepted at the hand of his master a bondwoman as his wife, the master did not lose his claim to the woman or her children, at the expiration of the husband’s term of service. Such wives, it may be presumed, were always foreign slaves. read more
Exodus 21:2. If thou buy a Hebrew servant Either sold by himself or his parents through poverty, or by the judges for his crimes, yet even such a one was to continue in slavery but seven years at the most. See the texts referred to in the margin. read more
Exodus 21:3. If he came in by himself That is, single, he shall so depart: if married, his wife was to depart with him. read more
Laws concerning slavery (21:1-11)Among the Hebrews a slave had rights. Any person, man or woman, who became the slave of another Hebrew, could not be held as a slave for more than six years (21:1-2; Deuteronomy 15:12). If a man took his wife with him into slavery, he also took her with him when he was released. If he was unmarried when he became a slave, then later was given a wife by his master, he did not take his wife and children with him when released. They remained with the master.... read more
by himself . Hebrew "with his body". Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part). App-6 . read more
RIGHTS OF MALE SLAVES"Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them. If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he come in by himself, he shall go out by himself. if he be married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master give him a wife, and she bear him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. But if the servant shall plainly say, I love my... read more
Exodus 21:2. If thou buy an Hebrew servant, &c.— The laws respecting male and female Hebrew servants, or slaves, are here delivered first; no doubt, to impress the just feelings of humanity towards them. Tertullian elegantly calls these laws the precepts of humanity; a just denomination, if we consider the dispensation under which they were decreed. Perpetual slavery is absolutely forbidden. Six years was the utmost term of slavery: to which they were sold, sometimes as malefactors by the... read more
Exodus 21:3-4. If he came in by himself, &c.— That is, single, he shall so depart; if married, his wife also was to depart in freedom with him. Leviticus 25:41. The case was to be different if he married while in servitude; when, if his master gave him a wife, a slave like himself, and not of the Hebrew race,—the wife, and such children as he might have by her, were to continue the master's property, and the man alone was to be free. See Leviticus 25:44-45. But if, as was very likely to... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 21:3
If he came in by himself , etc. The first clause of this verse is further explained in the next; the second secured to the wife who went into slavery with her husband a participation in his privilege of release at the end of the sixth year. read more