Deuteronomy 15:12-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:12-18

Here is, I. A repetition of the law that had been given concerning Hebrew servants who had sold themselves for servants, or were sold by their parents through extreme poverty, or were sold by the court of judgment for some crime committed. The law was, 1. That they should serve but six years, and in the seventh should go out free, Deut. 15:12. Compare Exod. 21:2. And, if the year of jubilee happened before they served out their time, that would be their discharge. God's Israel were a free... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:12

And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee ,.... By others, as by the sanhedrim for theft, for which a man might be sold, but not a woman, as Jarchi observes; but then a father might sell his daughter for an handmaid, if little and under age; and to such cases this law is supposed to refer; see Exodus 21:2 though a man on account of poverty might sell himself: and serve thee six years ; as he was bound to do, if his master lived so long; if he died before... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:13

And when thou sendest him out free from thee ,.... When he discharged him from his servitude, and made him a free man: thou shall not let him go away empty ; without anything to support himself, or to put himself in a way of business; he having in the time of his servitude worked entirely for his master, and so could not have got and saved anything for himself. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:14

Thou shalt furnish him liberally ,.... Not only to supply his present wants, but for his future use, and to set him up in the world: "loading thou shall load him" F8 העניק תעניק "onerando oneratis", Munster, Pagninus, Vatablus. , so some render the words; give him as much as he can carry, and well stand up under; the word used has the signification of chains wore about the neck for honour or ornament, and so may signify he should be very honourably dismissed, with plain marks of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:15

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt ,.... Where they were used hardly, and their lives were made bitter in hard bondage; and therefore should show the greater compassion to servants, whose case they could not but sympathize with, and have a fellow feeling of and the Lord thy God redeemed thee ; from the house of bondage and state of slavery, after they had been in it many years: therefore I command thee this thing today , to release their servants at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:16

And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee ,.... Out of his house, nor quit his service: because he loveth thee and thine house ; his master and his family, and so loath to leave them, but chooses rather to stay with them than have his liberty; hence the Jews say F11 Maimon. in Misn. Kiddushin, c. 1. sect. 2. , if his master has not a wife and children, his ear is not to be bored: because he is well with thee; lives well with him , is well used by him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:17

Then thou shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear unto the door ,.... Not of his master's house, but of the sanhedrim, or court of judicature, according to the Targum of Jonathan, before whom he was to be brought, and declare his desire to continue with his master; See Gill on Exodus 21:6 , and he shall be thy servant for ever ; that is, unto the jubilee, as the same Targum; for then all servants were released, and so Jarchi calls it the ever of jubilee: and also unto thy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 15:18

It shall not seem hard to thee when thou sendest him away free from thee ,.... He should not grudge him his liberty, nor what he gives to him when he dismisses him: for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee in serving thee six years ; since a hired servant a man is obliged to pay him wages for his work, besides his food, whereas a bondservant received no wages. Aben Ezra remarks, that this proves that a man might not hire himself for more than three years; or however, whereas... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 15:13

Thou shalt not let him go away empty - Because during the time he served thee, he made no property for himself, having been always honest towards thee; and now when he leaves thee, he has nothing to begin the world with. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 15:14

Thou shalt furnish him - out of thy flock - Thou shalt give him some cattle to breed with; out of thy floor - some corn for seed and for bread; and out of thy wine press - an adequate provision of wine for present necessity. read more

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