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Exodus 21:1 Slaves and servants in Hebrew culture

Dear Brothers and Sisters

The legal profession has come to have a rather unsavory character in our time.  However, when the law is given and interpreted by God, we need to pay attention and understand.  So today is a bit technical, but sorting out rules, statutes, commandments, laws is valuable.

Blessings

Jeff

Reformation Study Bible notes: The Lord sets forth the ordinances of His covenant. Civil and penal laws are presented at 21:1-22:15; laws controlling morality at Ex 22:16-27; Ex 23:1-9; laws of worship at Ex 20:22-26; Ex 22:28-30; Ex 23:10-19. Through 22:17 the statutes are in the form of case law ("If . . . then," with appropriate penalties); afterwards laws of the unconditionally imperative type ("you shall not") predominate. The purpose of these social codes was to regulate Israelite life in the Promised Land. Exodus 21:1 

Rules. The Hebrew word here means "precedents," or guiding principles determined by case decisions. These laws apply the foundational Decalogue (Ex 20:1-17) to society. Exodus 21:1

The fourth commandment - Sabbath - prohibits work by male or female servant on Sabbath.  Same word as slave.  Since Israel was mostly isolated from outside cultures at this point, workers came from within the community.  An economic necessity which was highly regulated to prevent abuse.  Completely different than chattel slavery (slave is property with no rights) as widely practiced in Americas for over 200 years.  

Having a clear understanding of this process is needed to grasp Paul's argument about being slave of sin or slave of righteousness in Romans.  We can't read modern abuses into the biblically narrative.  

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