Exodus Chapter 21

As we look back to this time in Biblical history, we need to consider that modern conveniences we have today such as banking systems and courtroom law were nonexistent.  When we read the word slave in the Bible our instinct is to think of slavery in the sense we are familiar with here in America.  In a way the Bible is talking about that kind of cruel slavery, but this chapter is referring more to what we would call indentured servants.  We must remember that God had just rescued the Israelites from slavery.  A man became a servant to another man when he owed a debt he could not pay.  But even in this system of indentured servitude God set up rules and limitations. 

This chapter and the following couple of chapters define rules or judgements that God put forth for men to follow.  Many of these are for those “what if” situations.  For example, “what if a man’s ox gores another man’s ox and it kills the ox, what should be done?”  God supplied the judgements for those occasions that were difficult to know what was fair and just.  God made the rules and judgements for men and women to live by.