And if the servant shall plainly say
Or, "in saying shall say" F9 shall express himself in
plain and full terms, and repeat his words, and abide by them,
signifying it as his last will and determined resolution:
I love my master, my wife, and my children, and I will not
go out free;
but continue in his servitude, having a great affection for his
master, and that he might enjoy his wife and children he dearly
loved; and being animated with such a principle, his servitude
was a pleasure to him: and when our obedience to God springs from
love to him, and to his cause and interest, which should be as
dear to us as our families, it is then acceptable to God and
delightful to ourselves; in ( Deuteronomy
15:16 ) ,
it is, because he loveth thee, and thine house, because he
is well with
thee;
hence the Jewish writers say F11, understanding by "house" a
family, if a servant has a wife and children and his master not,
his ear is not to be bored; and if his master has a wife and
children and he has not, his ear is not to be bored; if he loves
his master and his master do not love him, or his master loves
him and he do not love his master, or if he is sick his ear is
not to be bored.