This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
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Bro. Bruce's commentary for the book of Genesis is
now available for $7.50.
EXODUS
CHAPTER 21
1 Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.
The ten commandments, or the "Decalogue," were straight-forward commandments
which addressed general absolutes. For instance, our relationship with God,
and our relationships with each other.
Beginning here, and through chapter 23, God gives Moses some more intricate laws
which deal with specific cases. This is sometimes referred to as "case law."
Some of the explicit life-situations addressed here are not necessarily applicalbe
to us today. But, as always, there is an application which is meaningful.
2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. 5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: 6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
The Israelites had been servants/slaves for 400 years. They needed this "judgment"
from God to know how to treat servants when they were able to have them.
For a fellow Hebrew to become a servant, he had to agree to sell his work
for a price. Whether he did this because of poverty or because it was demanded
by judges due to a crim, he was to serve ONLY six years. If he became a servant
while he was single, and was given a wife, then the wife and children belonged to
the master. The only way he could KEEP them was to sell himself back to
his master for the rest of his life (vs 6).
We are created by God, and are His servants. He tells us we are free to live our own
lives, but ALL that we have belongs to Him. That includes wives, husbands,
and children. The only way to really KEEP what God has given is to serve
Him all our lives.
7 And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. 8 If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her. 9 And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters. 10 If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. 11 And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.
This law protects and edifies womanhood. There were generally three ways in which a man
could "sell" his daughter:
1) He could bargain for her to become another man's wife.
2) He could bargain for her to become the wife of another man's son.
3) Or, due to indebtedness, he could sell her labor for a time.
This passage of Scripture deals adequately with all three cases.
First, it would be unlawful to resell this woman to someone
outside the nation (vss 7-8). The owner must allow the father the
opportunity to "redeem" her - or buy her back.
Second, if the woman doesn't please the master with wifely duties,
he must allow her to be redeemed (vs 8). OR, if he takes a
second wife, the first must be maintained as before (vs 10).
Third, if the arrangement was for her to marry a man's son,
and it didn't work out, the master must treat this woman as his
daughter.
God is concerned for all people. And God knows that man is a sinner,
and will treat others wrong at times. He made provisions here for
the arrangement of marriages. And He imposed certain restrictions.
You'll notice that if the master didn't fulfill his obligations,
the woman was to be set free (vs 11).
The next verses (12-25) deal with acts of violence.
12 He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. 13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. 14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. 15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. 16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. 17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. 18 And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed: 19 If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed. 20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. 21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money. 22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
(vs 12) Murder is punishable by death. He who would premeditatedly murder deserves
24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Notice that these verses apply ONLY after due course of law!
The next verses deal with property ownership.
26 And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.
27 And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.
When angry owners caused servants to lose part of their anatomy through violent
28 If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.
29 But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.
30 If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
If the man's ox was known to be one that tried to gore people, and his
31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.
32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
These verses imply that a son or daughter must be replaced by a son or
32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
33 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;
34 The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.
Wells, or "pits," should be filled in when unused, and covered when used.
35 And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.
36 Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.
Be careful to DO no wrong. Take care of that which belongs to you, and
Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.
to be taken even from God's altar and put to death (vs 14).
Does God endorse the death penalty?
Yes. There are certain societal consequences for our actions.
This doesn't mean that God can't forgive. Any person who is found
guilty of premeditated murder and given the death penalty should
have the opportunity to confess and ask God's mercy.
(vs13) Manslaughter, or accidental death to another, deserved
protection. Later, God appointed certain cities to be "cities of
refuge," to which a person could run and not be quickly killed in
revenge. The law itself is our refuge if we act lawfully.
(vs 15) If a child is rebellious enough to strike his parents,
he does not deserve a "time out" chair! We must understand here,
that the child is old enough and large enough too have been properly
trained. To be taught not to do this, and then commit that act,
means that the child is unfit for society and would bring dishonor to
God and parents.
You will notice that the same punishment applies to a child who would
willing curse his/her parents (vs 17).
(vs 16) Kidnapping is punishable by death.
(vss 18-19) When men fight, the winner is responsible for the other's loss,
of time. There are really no "winners" in fighting!
(vss 20-21) Due correction to a disobedient slave was permissable.
But anger was not advisable, because it might cause irreparable harm,
or even death. In Eph. 6:9, Paul advises to moderate or even put off
discipline until anger is passed.
Many a person has lost his/her job due to the sudden fit of anger on
the part of the boss!
When men are fighting and a pregnant lady is harmed, and the baby is
lost; then the initiator of the disagreement will be held accountable.
Notice how much care God takes of a woman with child. She is
valued and protected. ALL human life is especially
valued by God. A child in the womb is a living person.
Life begins at conception (Ps. 139:15-16, Judges 13:5).
Abortion IS an act of violence!
Notice that the "woman's husband" and "the judges" are to determine the
punishment. And that punishment is to be in direct relationship to
the harm he has caused (see Col. 3:25).
This is called the law of "lex talionis," or law of retaliation.
NO one is ever given permission by God to vengefully retaliate,
or to execute the sentence of death without due recourse of law.
discipline, the servant was to be SET FREE!
owner had allowed the ox in the company of other people, then the ox AND
the owner were to be put to death!
There are certain obligations and responsibilities that accompany animal ownership.
This is why we have dog "leash and fence" laws today.
This was an act of willful negligence on the owner's part.
However, if the ox didn't have a reputation for it, then the owner was
to be assessed a payment penalty.
Also, if the owner was given the penalty of death, he could PAY
his way out of it (vs 30).
daughter (or an assessment price).
Again, this was due to negligence.
Note also the price of a servant - 30 pieces of silver.
Use good sense and protect your neighbor and his possessions.
leave no opportunity for wrongdoing to a neighbor.
If wrong occurs to your neighbor, be quick to reconcile and pay what is right.