How does Exodus 21:7 reflect cultural norms of ancient Israelite society? Scripture Focus “And if a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the male servants do.” (Exodus 21:7) Economic Background: Indentured Service • Agrarian life left families vulnerable to drought, debt, or crop failure. • Selling a child into service functioned as a long-term work contract, supplying immediate funds (often the girl’s bridal price in advance) and guaranteeing her basic needs. • Unlike chattel slavery, Israelite indenture was regulated, time-limited for males (Exodus 21:2) and strictly conditioned for females (Exodus 21:8-11). Patriarchal Family Structure • The father held legal authority over children (cf. Numbers 30:3-5). • Arranged marriages were normal; a daughter’s future was negotiated by her father (Genesis 24:50-51). • Exodus 21:7 assumes this social framework, yet places boundaries on paternal decisions. Gender Distinctions in the Law • Male servants automatically gained freedom after six years (Exodus 21:2). • Female servants could become wives or concubines of the master or his son (Exodus 21:8-9); release came through marriage or redemption, not the six-year term. • This difference reflects expectations that a woman’s security came through attachment to a household, not independent land ownership. Built-In Protections for the Daughter If the master… • “is displeasing to her” — he must allow her redemption (Exodus 21:8). • designates her for his son — he must “treat her as a daughter” (Exodus 21:9). • takes another wife — he must still provide “food, clothing, and marital rights” (Exodus 21:10-11). Failure in any of these duties mandated her freedom without payment, an early legal safeguard for women. Reflection of Covenant Values • God met Israel within existing customs but infused them with justice (Leviticus 25:39-41). • The law protected the vulnerable, anticipating later prophetic calls to defend the oppressed (Isaiah 1:17). • Ultimately, it foreshadowed Christ, who redeems those “sold under sin” (Romans 7:14; Galatians 4:4-5). Takeaway for Today • Scripture speaks into real cultures, regulating rather than endorsing every element. • Wherever economic hardship and power imbalances exist, God’s people are called to uphold dignity, provide pathways to freedom, and mirror the Redeemer’s heart. |
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