10 If he take H3947 him another H312 wife; her food, H7607 her raiment, H3682 and her duty of marriage, H5772 shall he not diminish. H1639
Now G1161 concerning G4012 the things whereof G3739 ye wrote G1125 unto me: G3427 It is good G2570 for a man G444 not G3361 to touch G680 a woman. G1135 Nevertheless, G1223 G1161 to avoid fornication, G4202 let G2192 every man G1538 have G2192 his own G1438 wife, G1135 and G2532 let G2192 every woman G1538 have G2192 her own G2398 husband. G435 Let G591 the husband G435 render G591 unto the wife G1135 due G3784 benevolence: G2133 and G1161 likewise G3668 also G2532 the wife G1135 unto the husband. G435 The wife G1135 hath G1850 not G3756 power G1850 of her own G2398 body, G4983 but G235 the husband: G435 and G1161 likewise G3668 also G2532 the husband G435 hath G1850 not G3756 power G1850 of his own G2398 body, G4983 but G235 the wife. G1135 Defraud ye G650 not G3361 one the other, G240 except G1509 G302 it be G5100 with G1537 consent G4859 for G4314 a time, G2540 that G2443 ye may give yourselves G4980 to fasting G3521 and G2532 prayer; G4335 and G2532 come G4905 together G1909 G846 again, G3825 that G3363 Satan G4567 tempt G3985 you G5209 not G3363 for G1223 your G5216 incontinency. G192 But G1161 I speak G3004 this G5124 by G2596 permission, G4774 and not G3756 of G2596 commandment. G2003
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 21
Commentary on Exodus 21 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 21
Ex 21:1-6. Laws for Menservants.
1. judgments—rules for regulating the procedure of judges and magistrates in the decision of cases and the trial of criminals. The government of the Israelites being a theocracy, those public authorities were the servants of the Divine Sovereign, and subject to His direction. Most of these laws here noticed were primitive usages, founded on principles of natural equity, and incorporated, with modifications and improvements, in the Mosaic code.
2-6. If thou buy an Hebrew servant—Every Israelite was free-born; but slavery was permitted under certain restrictions. An Hebrew might be made a slave through poverty, debt, or crime; but at the end of six years he was entitled to freedom, and his wife, if she had voluntarily shared his state of bondage, also obtained release. Should he, however, have married a female slave, she and the children, after the husband's liberation, remained the master's property; and if, through attachment to his family, the Hebrew chose to forfeit his privilege and abide as he was, a formal process was gone through in a public court, and a brand of servitude stamped on his ear (Ps 40:6) for life, or at least till the Jubilee (De 15:17).
Ex 21:7-36. Laws for Maidservants.
7-11. if a man sell his daughter—Hebrew girls might be redeemed for a reasonable sum. But in the event of her parents or friends being unable to pay the redemption money, her owner was not at liberty to sell her elsewhere. Should she have been betrothed to him or his son, and either change their minds, a maintenance must be provided for her suitable to her condition as his intended wife, or her freedom instantly granted.
23-25. eye for eye—The law which authorized retaliation (a principle acted upon by all primitive people) was a civil one. It was given to regulate the procedure of the public magistrate in determining the amount of compensation in every case of injury, but did not encourage feelings of private revenge. The later Jews, however, mistook it for a moral precept, and were corrected by our Lord (Mt 5:38-42).
28-36. If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die—For the purpose of sanctifying human blood, and representing all injuries affecting life in a serious light, an animal that occasioned death was to be killed or suffer punishment proportioned to the degree of damage it had caused. Punishments are still inflicted on this principle in Persia and other countries of the East; and among a rude people greater effect is thus produced in inspiring caution, and making them keep noxious animals under restraint, than a penalty imposed on the owners.
30. If there be laid on him a sum of money, &c.—Blood fines are common among the Arabs as they were once general throughout the East. This is the only case where a money compensation, instead of capital punishment, was expressly allowed in the Mosaic law.