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Exodus 21

36 verses

TL;DR

Exodus 21 presents civil and criminal laws for the Israelite community, covering Hebrew slavery, personal injury, homicide, and animal‑related offenses.

Summary

The chapter begins with regulations governing Hebrew servants, setting a six‑year term of service with freedom in the seventh year, and specifying conditions for voluntary servitude and permanent servitude if a servant refuses to leave. It then moves to laws concerning violence, stipulating death for manslaughter, liability for assault that causes death, and compensation for injuries to children and animals. The legal framework includes the famous ‘eye for eye’ principle for intentional injury, but allows monetary compensation or release in certain cases involving servants or animals. Finally, it provides detailed rules for oxen that gore people or animals, including restitution, stoning, and possible owner liability. Throughout, the laws emphasize justice, restitution, and the protection of property and life.

Outline
  1. Hebrew servitude and emancipation
  2. Violence, homicide, and injury laws
  3. Animal‑related offenses and restitution
Themes
Justice and restitutionProtection of vulnerable groupsLegal accountability
Keywords
servantHebrewlawjusticerestitutionhomicideinjuryoxshekelcapital punishmenteye for eyewomenchildrenfamily
People
Places
Things
Hebrew servantmaidservantawlstoneoxshekelpitdoor postaltar
Key Verses
  • Exodus 21:7: Stipulates that a female servant sold to become a maidservant does not have the same freedom as a male servant, highlighting gender distinctions in servitude.
  • Exodus 21:12: Establishes capital punishment for manslaughter, underscoring the seriousness of unintended homicide.
  • Exodus 21:23-25: Introduces the lex talionis (eye for eye) principle, a foundational legal concept for equitable retribution.
Questions
  • How does Exodus 21 reflect the social hierarchy of ancient Israel?
  • What is the significance of allowing a servant to remain with the master versus releasing them?
  • Why is the law of eye for eye paired with monetary compensation in some cases?
  • What does the treatment of animals reveal about property and moral responsibility?
  • How do these laws compare with contemporary legal systems of neighboring cultures?
Sentiment

neutral
The passage presents regulatory content without emotive language.