Exodus 21:21

21 But if the slave gets up in a day or two, the owner must not be punished. The slave is his property.

Exodus 21:21 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 21:21

Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two
And does not die immediately, or the same day, but lives twenty four hours, as the Jewish writers interpret it; so Abendana F24 explains the phrase, "a day or two";

``a day which is as two days, and they are twenty four hours from time to time,''

that is, from the time he was smitten to the time of his continuance; and so it is elsewhere explained F25 by a day we understand a day, which is like two days, that is, from time to time, the meaning of which is, from a certain time in one day to the same in another:

he shall not be punished;
that is, with death;

for he [is] his money;
is bought with his money, and is good as money, and therefore it is a loss sufficient to him to lose him; and it may be reasonably thought he did not smite his servant with an intention to kill him, since he himself is the loser by it.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 Not. in Miclol Yophi in loc.
F25 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Zabim, c. 2. sect. 3.

Exodus 21:21 In-Context

19 If the injured man can get up again and walk around outside with a cane, the one who hit him must not be punished. He must pay the injured man for the loss of his time and for all his medical expenses.
20 "Whenever an owner hits his male or female slave with a stick so that the slave dies from the beating, the owner must be punished.
21 But if the slave gets up in a day or two, the owner must not be punished. The slave is his property.
22 "This is what you must do whenever men fight and injure a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely. If there are no other injuries, the offender must pay whatever fine the court allows the woman's husband to demand.
23 If anyone is injured, the offender must pay a life for a life,
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