Exodus 21:33

Key Reflection

Exodus 21:33 establishes a legal framework for compensation in cases where an animal causes injury. If a bull goring a slave results in death, the owner is required to provide thirty shekels of silver to the slave's master. This law reflects both economic and social contexts; it acknowledges the economic value of slaves while imposing a penalty on the bull by stoning it. The cultural context highlights the hierarchical nature of society at that time, where even the disposal of an animal was seen as a significant matter due to its potential economic impact on families or households.