Review Of Exodus 21

— by Victor Fawole

I welcome everyone to Exodus 21 – where God gave the laws that further explain the “Big Ten”. These ordinances are spread throughout the Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In Exodus 21-23, God focuses primarily on the six horizontal commandments. The two guiding principles of God’s laws are justice and love. God is love (1John 4:8) and God is just (Deut. 32:4, 2Thess. 1:6). Through the Law, He revealed His character of love and divine justice. These guiding principles also guide our conduct as believers today.

Let us review:

Exo. 21:1 “Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them:

The word “judgements” is the Hebrew word “mishpat” (some other translations use ordinances, regulations, rules). It describes what is right in God’s eyes. It refers to various laws, regulations, prescriptions, specifications, both spoken or written, which were to be obeyed, with some of them having prescribed penalties for violation. Obedience would lead to right behaviour among men and blessing from God. Disobedience would lead to death and grievous consequences. That was the modus operandi under the Law.

LAWS ABOUT SLAVES
To begin with, let us consider the circumstances that could make an Israelite become a slave:

• 1. The pressure of extreme poverty could make an Israelite to sell his liberty in order to preserve himself or his family from suffering (Lev. 25:39)
• 2. An Israelite could be sold for a similar reason (as number 1) by his father (Exo. 21:7, Neh. 5:5)
• 3. A bankrupt debtor might be sold as slave to his creditor, as a punishment or by way of payment (2Kgs. 4:1)
• 4. A thief who is unable to make restitution for what he has stolen (according to the proportion that the law requires), would be sold as compensation to the person he stole from (Exo. 22:3-4)
• 5. An Israelite might become a slave when captured in war.
• 6. An Israelite who was redeemed from a Gentile slave master might then be re-sold by the one who ransomed him to another Israelite (Lev. 25:47-55).

God is not the founder of slavery, but since it was common and permissible among men in those days, God gave instructions to be followed if one bought/had an Israeli slave.

• 1. Slavery is not forever. Every Hebrew slave had to be released in the seventh year of service – for free! The slave did not have to pay a price to gain his freedom. It is the sabbatical year and the slave could now experience “rest” from his servitude to his compatriot.
• 2. If the Israeli slave was single when he became a slave, he shall leave single. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife must be freed with him.
• 3. If the master acquires a wife for his slave, the wife and the children are actually the possession of the master. This is because the slave had no right or means to acquire a wife. The master must have paid the bride price and made the provision. Also, since the master was better able to provide for the wife and children, then they belong to him.
• 4. A slave could be motivated by the love of his master, and choose to be his slave permanently. This life-long commitment is based on the master’s goodness and blessings for the servant, not by coercion or manipulation, not by debt or obligation. Only by love for the master!
• 5. In the case of number 4 above, an official ceremony must be carried out to legalise it. The master must bring him before God’s authoritative witnesses – the judges who represent Him. A permanent mark must be done on the slave’s ears through piercing, signifying permanent servitude.
• 6. Female slaves are treated differently. They are better protected. The law presupposes that she will marry either her master or the master’s son (or even as “concubine”). Hence, she has the status of a “married woman” (v. 8) and she is to be treated kindly with respect.
• 7. If a master no longer desires the female slave, then he must let her go free. She is to be redeemed – most likely by her father. However, he is not permitted to sell her to another master, specifically a non-Israelite.
• 8. If a master chooses to marry the female slave for her son, then she must henceforth be treated as a daughter. She must be treated as a free person, with full rights of citizenship.
• 9. If a master (or his son) who has married a slave wife marries another wife, then he must not neglect the rights of the first wife in matters of food, clothing, and sexual intimacy. Failure in any of these three obligations means she must go as a free woman without making any payment.

We can see that since God is aware that women are often at the mercy of their husbands or masters, they must not be trapped in an unfortunate situation. They are to be treated well by their masters or husbands. No room for abuse of power.

Is there any point of these laws that apply to us as believers? The Bible calls us slaves of Christ (Eph. 6:6, Col. 3:24) and slaves of God (Rom. 6:22, 1Pet. 2:16). So, we must let these truths sink into our consciousness:

• 1. The fundamental aspects of slavery are the features of our redemption. We are chosen (Eph. 1:4-5, 1Pet. 2:9), bought (1Cor. 7:23), owned by our Master (Rom. 14:7-9, 1Cor. 6:19, Tit. 2:14); subject to our Master’s will and control over us (Acts 5:29, Rom. 6:16-19); and totally dependent on our Master for everything in our lives (2 Cor. 9:8-11, Phil. 4:19). We will ultimately be called to account (Rom. 14:12); evaluated (2 Cor. 5:10); and either chastened or rewarded by Him (Heb. 12:5-11; 1Cor. 3:14).
• 2. Our life-long commitment to Christ must be motivated by our love for Him – Who first loved us.
• 3. As Christ’s slaves, we bear His marks on our bodies (Gal. 6:17).
• 4. Having Christ as our Master liberates us from a cruel master – Satan (Rom. 6:16).

Let us move on…

LAWS ABOUT VIOLENCE AND INJURY

• 1. The penalty for murder is death. This has been made clear even before the Law (Gen. 9:6).
• 2. Premeditated killing (murder) and accidental killing (manslaughter) are to be treated differently. God provided six cities of refuge (Num. 35:11-15) in convenient locations for anyone charged with manslaughter could run to, so that the victim’s family would not kill him in hot vengeance. These six cities of refuge all foreshadow Christ (Heb. 6:18). There is no refuge for someone who intentionally killed another person. I recommend that you read this article written by Pastor Dammy: “Jesus: Our City Of Refuge!”
• 3. The penalty for kidnapping is death. Like in the case of murder, this law reflects the biblical teaching of the value, worth and dignity of man in God’s image. Kidnapping displays deep-rooted contempt for God and His image-bearers.
• 4. The penalty for cursing or killing one’s parent(s) is death. The Law of Moses requires that parents were to bring a rebellious child before the elders and judges. The parents did not have the absolute power of life and death over their children. In fact, the judges of Israel rarely gave the death penalty, but if they found it necessary, the child was held accountable. (Deut. 21:18-21, Lev. 20:9)
• 5. The penalty for killing or cursing one’s parent(s) is death. The part of murdering one’s parents looks clear, but Jewish scholars have debated whether or not the death penalty for cursing one’s parents is justifiable. According to Deut. 21:18-21, there are several things to keep in mind about this particular sin and about the law:

If the sin is ongoing and continuous, the punishment would be meted out. That is, after a persistent refusal to obey both parents, and after all discipline had failed. In other words, the parents have tried to deal with their child in a loving firm way, but nothing worked.

If it was a deep-seated sin leading to other immoralities, the punishment would be meted out. That is, the child is stubborn in his rebellion. Not only is he “ungovernable”, he is also a “glutton and a drunkard.” He has become a menace, causing trouble in the society and grieving his parents, possibly to the point of endangering them physically and financially.

The punishment was not an act of anger or vengeance. The city elders had to oversee the case and determine the guilt of the child. It is only after the elders pronounced a sentence of death that the execution could take place. The law did not allow an angry parent to stone his child.

The punishment was designed to preserve the nation, purge evil from society and act as a deterrent to further rebellion, as rebellion against one’s parents is direct rebellion against God._

Let’s continue with the laws about violence and injury…

• 6. If, because of injuries sustained in a quarrel, a man is unable to work, the one who injured him must pay compensation to him and his family. He is to pay for the medical treatment and wages he could have earned if he went to work on the days he was in bed.
• 7. If a master beats his slave to immediate death, he shall be avenged. It must be treated as a murder case. However, if the slave did not die immediately, the master would not be punished. This means that if the slave did not die immediately, then he was beaten with the intention of discipline and not murder. The unintentional “death” is merely a loss of property for the master (for the slave was his property).
• 8. If a master causes physical injury / damage to his slave, such slave must be granted freedom. There should be no assault against slaves.
• 9. If a pregnant woman was injured in a quarrel, and she gave birth prematurely or suffers miscarriage, the husband of the pregnant woman must demand compensation from the attacker, which is subject to the approval of the judges. However, if there is further physical damage or death, the attacker is made to suffer exactly the same thing. However, there is no biblical account of this law being carried out.

LAWS ABOUT ANIMAL CONTROL & DAMAGE

• 1. Any animal that kills a person must be killed in return.
• 2. However, if the owner of the animal is aware that his animal was dangerous, and yet did nothing to properly prevent it from harming others, both the animal and the owner must be executed.
• 3. Another provision in this law is that if the family of the dead person decides to request monetary restitution, the owner would pay and not be executed. If a slave was killed under such circumstances, the price of restitution was 30 shekels of silver (the price of a slave), and it was to be paid to the master.
• 4. If a person digs a pit, leaves it uncovered, and an animal falls into it, the person must pay compensation to the owner of the animal.
• 5. If an animal kills another animal, the aggressive animal must be sold. The two owners involved will share the money equally, and as well share the dead animal equally.
• 6. On number 5 above, if the owner of the aggressive animal is aware that his animal was dangerous, and did nothing to cage it, he will make full restitution and take the dead animal to himself.

Dear Gogolights, we can see that the spirit of the law focuses on human and societal flourishing. While we are not under the law, we must live our lives guided by God’s love. We must seek human and societal flourishing too. That is how Jesus summarised the whole law (Mark 12.29-31). The truth that we are not under the law, does not mean that we are to live lawlessly. Love should be our life’s guiding rails.

Tag five people and tell them: Jesus is my City of Refuge!

God bless you for reading. We shall continue tomorrow.

Grace to you, Church!