Exodus 21:4

Key Reflection

This commandment outlines a legal provision for a slave who either voluntarily enters into slavery or is sold by his parents. If a slave comes in alone, he has no family ties to bind him and would be free to leave when his term of service ends. However, if the slave was married before coming into servitude, his wife and any children born during this period become part of the master’s property, reflecting the social norms where family and marriage were closely tied to one's economic status. This law highlights the complex realities faced by those in ancient Israelite society, balancing legal rights with practical considerations of household and familial obligations.