Why does Exodus 21:7 permit selling a daughter into servitude? Scriptural Foundation “‘If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the menservants do.’ ” (Exodus 21:7) The paragraph continues through verse 11, detailing three possible outcomes—betrothal to the master’s son, retention as a concubine-wife, or redemption by her family—and the protections attached to each. Ancient Near-Eastern Background Cuneiform tablets (e.g., Code of Hammurabi §§ 117, 146) reveal that impoverished parents commonly placed children into indentureship to repay debts. Mosaic Law, however, layers unprecedented safeguards absent from surrounding cultures: 1. Mandatory marital provision or immediate redemption (vv. 8-9, 11). 2. Permanent food, clothing, and marital rights; failure triggers automatic emancipation (v. 11). 3. Prohibition of resale to foreigners (v. 8). These clauses elevate her status to that of a protected family member. Economic and Familial Rationale Israel was agrarian; crop failure, war taxes, or widowhood could devastate a household (cf. 2 Kings 4:1; Nehemiah 5:3-5). Bond-service functioned as a welfare net: • The father received the bride-price (mōhar, Exodus 22:17), relieving debt. • The daughter gained covenantal inclusion in a more stable household. • Unlike modern wage contracts, ancient agreements tied subsistence—food, shelter, future dowry—to the master. Protections Unique to the Mosaic Covenant 1. Termination clauses—if rejected as wife, she “shall be redeemed” (v. 8). 2. Upward mobility—betrothal to the master’s son granted full inheritance rights (v. 9). 3. Neglect penalties—if food, clothing, or conjugal love is withheld, “she shall be free, without payment of money” (v. 11). No parallel legal code of the era offers comparable protections. Distinction from Modern Slavery • Chattel slavery (permanent, race-based) is condemned: “Whoever kidnaps a man… shall surely be put to death” (Exodus 21:16). • Bond-service was time-limited (six years, Exodus 21:2) unless voluntarily extended (vv. 5-6). • The servant retained legal personhood, civil rights, and Sabbath rest (Exodus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:14). Theological Trajectory toward Liberty The law regulates a fallen institution rather than initiates it, guiding Israel toward redemptive ethics: • Jubilee emancipation (Leviticus 25:40). • Prophetic critique of exploitation (Jeremiah 34:8-17). • Fulfillment in Christ, who proclaims “release to the captives” (Luke 4:18, citing Isaiah 61:1). The cross abolishes ethnic and social barriers: “there is neither slave nor free… for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Christological Fulfillment The bond-servant motif prefigures the Messiah: “behold My Servant” (Isaiah 52:13). Jesus voluntarily “took on the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7) to redeem humanity from sin-debt (Mark 10:45). Thus Exodus 21:7, while civil legislation, anticipates ultimate emancipation through the resurrection. Practical Application • The passage calls believers to protect the vulnerable, provide economic relief, and honor covenant obligations. • Modern parallels include foster care, adoption, and fair labor practices—avenues to incarnate the Law’s protective spirit. Summary Exodus 21:7 addresses temporary indenture as a regulated, protective institution in an ancient economy, safeguarding a daughter’s rights, dignity, and future. Far from endorsing modern slavery, the statute limits abuse, points Israel toward compassionate justice, and foreshadows the redemptive servanthood of Christ, who secures ultimate freedom for all who believe. |
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