Exodus 21:6 - Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 6

Shall bring him unto the judges - האלהים אל el haelohim , literally, to God; or, as the Septuagint have it, προς το κριτηριον Θεου , to the judgment of God; who condescended to dwell among his people; who determined all their differences till he had given them laws for all cases, and who, by his omniscience, brought to light the hidden things of dishonesty. See Exodus 22:8 .

Bore his ear through with an awl - This was a ceremony sufficiently significant, as it implied,

That he was closely attached to that house and family.

That he was bound to hear all his master's orders, and to obey them punctually. Boring of the ear was an ancient custom in the east. It is referred to by Juvenal: -

Prior, inquit, ego adsum.

Cur timeam, dubitemve locum defendere? Quamvis

Natus ad Euphraten, Molles quod in Aure Fenestrae

Arguerint, licet ipse negem

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

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