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William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:1-32

CHAPTER XXI.THE LESSER LAW (continued).PART II.--RIGHTS OF THE PERSON.Exodus 21:1-32.The first words of God from Sinai had declared that He was Jehovah Who brought them out of slavery. And in this remarkable code, the first person whose rights are dealt with is the slave. We saw that a denunciation of all slavery would have been premature, and therefore unwise; but assuredly the germs of emancipation were already planted by this giving of the foremost place to the rights of the least of all and... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:1-36

6THE LESSER LAW.Exodus 20:18 - Exodus 23:33.With the close of the Decalogue and its universal obligations, we approach a brief code of laws, purely Hebrew, but of the deepest moral interest, confessed by hostile criticism to bear every mark of a remote antiquity, and distinctly severed from what precedes and follows by a marked difference in the circumstances.This is evidently the book of the Covenant to which the nation gave its formal assent (Exodus 24:7), and is therefore the germ and the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Exodus 21:1-36

CHAPTER 21 Different Judgments 1. Master and servant (Exodus 21:1-11 ) 2. Concerning injury to the person (Exodus 21:12-32 ) 3. Concerning property (Exodus 21:33-36 ) The Three Chapters which follow the giving of the Ten Commandments give the practical application of the Decalogue in the daily life. The duties towards the fellowman are demonstrated in part. There are seven sections to these three chapters; each section contains ten precepts. The servant occupies the first place. He was... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Exodus 21:3

21:3 If he {b} came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.(b) Not having wife nor children. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:1-36

RESPONSIBILITIES OF MASTERS (vs.1-11) Moses is now given an expanded view of the law on Chapters 21-23. Special duties of masters are first considered. They may think they have full authority over their slaves, but they must first remember God's authority over themselves. For God decidedly limits their authority over slaves. It was permissible to buy a Hebrew slave. Sometimes one would become so poor as to sell himself to another (Leviticus 25:39), but his master was to strictly observe... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:1-36

THE CIVIL CODE The ten commandments constitute the moral law, a perfect rule of duty for all men and everywhere. But the “judgments” (Exodus 21:1 ) that follow are an application of those commandments to Israel in the peculiar circumstances of their history at that time and when they should inhabit Canaan. The ten commandments, let us say, represent the constitution of the United States, and the judgments the legislative enactments based thereon by Congress. The three chapters now entered... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Exodus 21:1-36

Bye-laws Exodus 21-23 Amongst these bye-laws there are some sayings which may be considered hard, and on reading them we may ask in almost plaintive and despairing tones, "Who is sufficient for these things?" There are also some out-of-the-way responsibilities, which only Divine wisdom and justice could in the then state of society have imposed. We must not permit ourselves to lose the religious philosophy and the religious beneficence of the Mosaic legislation by going back upon it with our... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Exodus 21:2-3

Oh! that this precept was duly considered in its whole extent, by those who deal in human traffic. Observe, how the Lord himself interposeth by it to induce mercy. Deu_15:12; Deu_15:18 . read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:3

Raiment. Hebrew Gaph may signify also the body. "If he come (with his body) alone, let him so depart," Septuagint. (Calmet) read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:1-11

1-11 The laws in this chapter relate to the fifth and sixth commandments; and though they differ from our times and customs, nor are they binding on us, yet they explain the moral law, and the rules of natural justice. The servant, in the state of servitude, was an emblem of that state of bondage to sin, Satan, and the law, which man is brought into by robbing God of his glory, by the transgression of his precepts. Likewise in being made free, he was an emblem of that liberty wherewith Christ,... read more

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