Exodus 21: The Rest of the Story…

​“Now these are the rules that you shall set before them.2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. 3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out alone. 5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.

7 “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. 9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. 11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.

12 “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 13 But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.
15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.
16 “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
17 “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.
18 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, 19 then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.
20 “When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged.21 But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.
22 “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
26 “When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. 27 If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.

28 “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. 29 But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him.31 If it gores a man's son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to this same rule. 32 If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Laws About Restitution
33 “When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restoration. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead beast shall be his.
35 “When one man's ox butts another's, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and share its price, and the dead beast also they shall share. 36 Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his.

Meditation
Today’s reading is a classic catalyst of confusion for contemporary readers. Offering guidelines for slavery, archaic parenting advice, and very weird direction for animals… Is God’s word archaic and irrelevant?

The giving of God’s law blesses God’s people who had just been redeemed and freed from slavery (Exodus 20). Israel’s historical and cultural context drives interpretation, helping us see the covenantal standards for these case laws. Modern readers must hold in check our cultural arrogance and humble ourselves to see God’s astounding grace revealed in God's design to create a community of redeemed people called to mediate His blessings to the world.

God does NOT endorse slavery. The first-time slavery is mentioned in Scripture is a curse (Genesis 9:25-27) and the crown jewel of Scripture’s abolitionist teaching is Philemon, a small epistle telling the story of a runaway slave named Onesimus who came to Christ before returning to Philemon for restoration. The former slave was received as a brother in Christ (Colossians 4:7-9)! An astounding standard for a Roman culture where Onesimus could be legally executed. God’s people are called to create a community where the institution of slavery cannot survive. In Jesus Christ, there is no slave or free (Galatians 3:28).

The regulations for slavery in Exodus 21 were given to a people who had seen the cruelest versions of slavery. Their experience in Egypt alongside what they saw in countries they passed through in the wilderness and would later drive out of Canaan all treated slaves with destruction, purely as property to be used. In contrast, Israel’s economy was based on dignity for all people. Physical harm was not tolerated (21:26), worship of the Lord expected (12:44; Deuteronomy 16:11-14), Sabbath rest required (20:10), and legal rights for appeal (Job 31:13) and asylum (Deuteronomy 23:15-16) were established. Slavery was not justified but redefined to bring dignity where there was none. 

Christianity is only one worldview that anchors reality in the dignity of all people, identifies the root cause of all of our social problems, and brings good news of the solution for all who believe. It is wrong to say the Bible is pro-slavery, but it is right and good for believers to pray for God’s design to further through God’s redeemed people, the Church, as we seek justice and serve to restore God given dignity for all people and God’s grand design for all His world.


Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading?
 
-Where do you lose confidence in God’s revelation in Scripture because you read more through cultural lenses than allowing God’s word to have absolute authority?
 
-How does a larger view of Scripture’s teaching on slavery not only help you understand today’s reading but also inspire you to know more of what God has to say about difficult issues or our world?
 
Key Verse
5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’