Exodus 21:1-36
Chapters 21-23 outline laws for the children of Israel.
21:1 Moses is about to create law guidelines for the children of Israel. Although not directly applicable to our present day, we learn from the follow that God's children uphold justice, fairness and decency with all people.
21:2-4 When hiring on a worker, Moses tells the children of Israel to allow that worker to remain with his family, if he has one. He also says that employees are released for free after six years.
21:6-11 If an employee is happy with the family he works for, he can go through the judicial process of remaining there forever under the care of his employer. The organization of society in these times is different from ours but like us, their mission is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. In Moses' time society was heavily patriarchal.
21:12-15 Premeditated murder, malicious killing, is forbidden.
21:16 Human trafficking is forbidden. Punishable by death. Notice that these offenses still occur in our world today.
21:17 Ill-treatment of mothers and fathers is forbidden.
21:18-19 If after a physical altercation the victim heals, the offender must pay for the loss of time and medication to heal. These decrees established much needed order.
21:20-21 Scary depiction of society! Also, contradictory to God's word. God implores us to extend kindness and gentleness with every human.
21:16 Human trafficking is forbidden. Punishable by death. Notice that these offenses still occur in our world today.
21:17 Ill-treatment of mothers and fathers is forbidden.
21:18-19 If after a physical altercation the victim heals, the offender must pay for the loss of time and medication to heal. These decrees established much needed order.
21:20-21 Scary depiction of society! Also, contradictory to God's word. God implores us to extend kindness and gentleness with every human.
20:22-25 Continuing contradictory decrees: although this decree claims eye-for-eye type of punishment, God's work declares differently. It is normal for there to be flaws and errors in human constructions because we are imperfect. Our maturity and growth is a process. These were among the first laws to be established by humans, it makes sense that they would need improvement. Matthew 5:39 instructs us to be able to be strong enough to turn the other cheek and resist returning evil with evil.
20:26-27 If a servant is maimed is to be released from duty.
21:28 Vicious animals are sentenced to die, the animal is not to be eaten, and the owner will be unpunished. (Remember these are not word's from God's mouth). Likely this law was make to assuage persons who were harmed by animals and took their anger out on the innocent owners.
21:29-32 If the vicious animal is known to have an aggressive nature and is not stored in a way to prevent its destruction, the owner is then in serious trouble. The owner is able to pay his way out of punishment if he so chooses.
21:33-34 People are responsible for destroying others' property (livestock).
21:35-36 If one person's animal kills another person's animal, they must sell the living animal and split the funds. Again, if the animal was known to be vicious, the owner is responsible for the attack.
21:29-32 If the vicious animal is known to have an aggressive nature and is not stored in a way to prevent its destruction, the owner is then in serious trouble. The owner is able to pay his way out of punishment if he so chooses.
21:33-34 People are responsible for destroying others' property (livestock).
21:35-36 If one person's animal kills another person's animal, they must sell the living animal and split the funds. Again, if the animal was known to be vicious, the owner is responsible for the attack.
