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Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 21:6

Exodus 21:6. His master shall bring him to the judges In the original, gods, magistrates being often so called as the visible representatives of God upon earth. In the Septuagint it is προς το κριτηριον θεου , to the tribunal of God, meaning probably the sanctuary. The sense seems evidently to be, that the master was to bring his slave to the temporal judges, that they might take cognizance of the case, and that the agreement, being publicly and solemnly confirmed, might be irrevocable. ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:1-11

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 21:6

the judges . See note on 22. e. bore his ear . Hence a symbol of obedience an perpetual servitude. Compare Psalms 40:6 . Isaiah 48:8 ; Isaiah 50:5 and see note on Hebrews 10:5 . for ever . Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Whole). App-6 . A time put for limited time; "for life", or till the jubilee, Leviticus 25:13 , Leviticus 25:28 , Leviticus 25:40 , Leviticus 25:41 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 21:1-6

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

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 21:6

Exodus 21:6. Then his master shall bring him unto the judges— If the servant refused to be free, he was to be brought to the judges, אלהים elohim, gods, in the original; magistrates being so called, as the visible representatives of God upon earth. Psalms 1:6. John 10:34.Romans 13:1; Romans 13:1. The LXX render it προς το κριτηριον θεου, to the judgment of God; by which they mean, most probably, the sanctuary and oracle: but the true meaning seems to be, that the master was to bring his slave... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 21:1-12

The fundamental rights of the Israelites 21:1-23:12It is very important to note that various law codes already existed in the ancient Near East before the giving of the Mosaic Covenant. These included laws in the Akkadian civilization located in Mesopotamia in the twentieth century B.C. (e.g., the Laws of Esnunna). [Note: Pritchard, pp. 161-63.] There were also the laws in the Sumerian civilization in the nineteenth century (e.g., the Code of Lipit-Istar). [Note: Ibid., pp. 159-61.] Moreover... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 21:5-6

The Code of Hammurabi decreed that the master of a rebellious slave could cut off the ear of that slave. So the ear (Exodus 21:6) evidently marked the status of a slave in the ancient Near East (cf. Psalms 40:6). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:1-36

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. Manstealing, upon which modern systems of slavery are based, was a crime punishable by death (see Exodus 21:16), and the Law of Moses recognises the right of a slave to just and honourable treatment. A... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 21:6

(6) His master shall bring him unto the judges.—A formal act was necessary. The State must sanction the passing of a citizen into the slave condition, and so the “judges” were called in. The change was to be made by a significant ceremony. In order to mark that henceforth the volunteer bondman became attached to the household, he was to be physically attached to the house by having an awl forced through his ear, and then driven into the door or door-post. Hence “opening the ear” became a... read more

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