A Hebrew “Slave”

Weekly Torah Lesson

Parasha: Mishpatim – judgments
Torah:  Shemot 21:1 – 24:18

A Hebrew slave was not being forced against his will to serve someone who purchased him.  A Hebrew slave was usually someone who sold himself to a fellow Hebrew to get out of debt. His term of servitude was limited to six years and he usually left his “master” in far better financial condition than when he was on his own.

1 Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them. 2  When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. 3  If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4  If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s and he shall go out alone. (Shemot 21:1-4)

Here is an interesting event that was recorded approximately three hundred years before the passage in Shemot:

25  So Lavan overtook Ya’akov. Now Ya’akov had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Lavan with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead. 26  And Lavan said to Ya’akov: What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword? 27  Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp? 28  And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in so doing. 29  It is in my power to do you harm, but the Avinu of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to Ya’akov neither good nor bad.’ (Ge 31:25-29 )

43 And Lavan answered and said to Ya’akov, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne?” (Ge 31:43 )

Lavan was treating Ya’akov as he would a Hebrew Slave. The problem is that Ya’akov wasn’t a “slave”.  He was Lavan’s nephew and “served” him for twenty years for the permission to marry Lavan’s daughters.  The “law” concerning the Hebrew slave did not apply.

5  But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6  then his master shall bring him to Avinu, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for life. (Shemot 21:5-6)

In Lavan’s thinking, Ya’akov should have served him for life or left Lavan’s home empty handed. The Apostolic Writings approach the position of servant or slave differently:

And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. (Mr 10:44 )

21  Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22  For he who is called in the Master while a slave is the Master’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Meshiach’s slave. (1Co 7:21-22 )

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. (Mt 10:24 )

Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. (Mt 20:26 )

Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. (Lu 17:9 )

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. (Joh 12:26 )

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (Joh 15:15 )

Now I say that Yeshua HaMeshiach has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of Avinu, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, (Ro 15:8 )

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; (1Co 9:19 )

And a servant of the Master must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, (2Ti 2:24 )

The Revelation of Yeshua HaMeshiach, which Avinu gave Him to show His servants — things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, (Re 1:1 )