31. Laws of human rights: slavery and injuries (Ex 21:1-27)

The laws of God show how His people should live. Thus, such a community will reflect who God is in the world.

πŸ‘‰ Read Exodus 21:1-27

If you buy a Hebrew servant, he will serve you for (         ) years. In the (        ) year, he shall go free.

If a man kills his neighbor accidentally, what punishment is for him?


If a man hits and injures his neighbor. What penalty will be on the man who hit?


Answers and Meditation

Six, seven

God wants freedom for His people, the Hebrews, the people of being oppressed. 

When a slave was released from slavery, he could stay if he wanted. In ancient times, living as a slave at least had a guarantee of lodging and food.

In verses 7-11, God commanded them to keep the weakest's dignity in the community of His people.

God doesn’t want His people to live as slaves indefinitely. In the year of Jubilee, which comes every 50 years, all debts and slaves are freed no matter what. Our God is the God of freedom.

 

He must flee to a place God will designate and live there until the high priest's death.

This will be called the city of refuge. Later, the Lord assigned three towns on the east side and three on the west side of the Jordan River.  There in the city of refuge, when his innocence was proven, he could live there. After the high priest at that time died, he could return to his hometown.

The Lord provided a way for an unintended killer to live without being revenged. When you make a mistake, pray for God's help.

Why did the killer need to stay in the city of refuge even after he had been found innocent? Though it was a mistake, he should bear the guilt of killing his neighbor in this way. Someone must be held accountable for innocent bloodshed, which is only possible by another bloodshed. When the high priest died, his death was considered to have paid off the penalty for the bloodshed. Then, the innocent killer was fully released from the guilt.

 

He needs to pay accordingly.

‘life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ God demands fairness in dealing with these issues.

What matters is their intention in the case of killing someone. 

For injury, even though there was no evil intention, still the offender should pay the victim accordingly because the victim is alive.

God even cares for the injury of slaves. This is different from the contemporary culture of those days, where they treated slaves as their possession, like animals.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

15: They repented for the first time, But... (Judges 10:1 – 18)

They repented before the Lord, but He was not willing to deliver them because He knew their irresistible tendency toward idol worship. Read Judges 10:1 - 18 Q1. After the death of Abimelech, Tola rose up to (             ) Israel and (         ) Israel for 23 years. After him, (             ) rose up and (           ) Israel for 22 years. The towns he and his sons ruled were collectively called (                   ). Both (          ) and were buried in their hometowns. Answers πŸ‘‰ After the death of Abimelech, Tola rose up to ( deliver ) Israel and ( led ) Israel for 23 years. After him, ( Jair  ) rose up and (  led  ) Israel for 22 years. The towns he and his sons ruled were collectively called ( Havvoth Jair ). Both ( died ) and were buried in their hometowns. They "rose up." While there is no explicit mention that the Lord appointed them as judges, this does not necessarily mean they assumed leadership on their own.  Tola appears to have risen to deliver Israel du
Read more

25: ‘Tell us plainly’ vs ‘The Father and I are one.’ (John 10:22 – 42)

As Jesus announced the Father and Jesus were one, the Jewish leaders tried to stone him. πŸ‘‰ Read John 10:22 - 42 Q1. Why did the Jewish leaders not believe in Jesus? Answers πŸ‘‰ They refused to believe in Jesus, for they were not Jesus’ sheep. ‘you refused to believe.’ This tells their willing refusal.  Note that Jesus Himself doesn’t call Himself the Messiah. Instead, He called Himself the One sent from God. He focused on doing the Father’s works and proclaiming His words. From Jesus’ works, they could have concluded that He was the Messiah sent from God. But they refused to admit it. Instead, they asked Jesus to admit His identity as the Messiah plainly, which Jesus wouldn’t do. Q2. They asked Jesus if He were the (           ). But Jesus claimed that the (          ) and He are one. Because of this, they condemned Him of (             ) and tried to stone Him. Answer πŸ‘‰ They asked Jesus if He were the ( Christ ). But Jesus claimed that the ( Father  ) and He are one
Read more

13: Abimelech: The Rise of a Self-Appointed Leader (Judges 9:1 – 21)

All the judges in the Book of Judges were chosen by God. However, Abimelech claimed kingship on his own. The people of Shechem supported him but did not truly follow him. Although they appeared to act out of loyalty to their kin, they were ultimately pursuing their own interests. This alliance would ultimately lead to mutual destruction. Read Judges 9:1 - 21 Q1. Why did the people of Shechem follow Abimelech? (2-3) Answers πŸ‘‰ Abimelech was their close relative. His mother was from Shechem.  Q2. The people of Shechem gave him (                 ) silver coins. And he hired some (            ) men and killed his (             ), seventy sons of Jerub Baal, on (              ).  Answer πŸ‘‰ The people of Shechem gave him ( seventy ) silver coins. And he hired some ( lawless ) men and killed his ( brothers ), seventy sons of Jerub Baal, on ( one stone ). Take note of expressions that emphasize brotherhood, such as “our own flesh and blood” and “He is our close relative.” Alt
Read more