What does this passage seem to mean in its own sociohistorical setting? Include any observations on the passage from your textbook.
Exodus 21-23 terms the law given to the Israelites by God, as an extension of the Ten Commandments given to Moses. These laws were given to them at the foot of the holy mountain of Sinai, where the promises of the covenant and rule of conduct to lead holy lives were bestowed by God. Evidently, the law was given during the transition of the Israelites from the land of bondage to Canaan, that is, in the third century BCE in the wilderness.
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What ethical concern does the passage deal with in the context of that passage? Is it trying to encourage or discourage a particular behavior, or way of life?
Exodus 21-23 narrates the laws given unto the children of Israel by God on their way from Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land. The whole passage gives the laws for coexistence among the children of Israel, their slaves, among other properties. In the whole passage, love, respect, and honesty are hailed for peaceful coexistence, while also, the scripture articulates that evil should be punished and good should be rewarded (Spellman, 2017). The individual laws cover different concepts ranging from slaves, marriage, farming, worship, among other social aspects. For instance, Exodus 21:2 states, “If you buy a Hebrew servant he is to serve you for six years but for the seventh year he is to go free without paying you anything” (ESV). This verse of the passage stresses on the message of reward for good where the slave deserves the reward of freedom for the six years of dedicated service to their master. The background of the law was based on the appreciation of the fact that the Israelites were also once laves in the land of Egypt, thus, by knowing the pain of slavery, they should treat their slaves with dignity. On the other hand, the perspective of punishment for evil is clearly illustrated by the verse about punishment for stealing animals, garment, among other property as death.
Then, how is this passage relevant in contemporary times?
To what setting can you picture it being relevant?
Based on the passage, it is clear that the Bible did not invent slavery and that it has existed for a long time beyond the scope of the passage. However, the word of God regulates how slavery should be conducted. The Hebrew were held as slaves for many years in Egypt, and the scenario narrated in Exodus 21-23 reflects the current slavery of people in Assyria, among other societies (Baker, 2016; Klooster & Padula, 2018). The most remembered slavery is that of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade that involved capturing Africans as slaves for new farming lands in the Northern part of the Americas and Europe. Although the slave trade ended after the American Revolution, African Americans as well as Indigenous communities in the United States, and Canada have continued to suffer under slavery through systemic discrimination: they are subjected to social constructions that put them in positions of slavery in terms of criminal justice, education, employment, among others (Sheppard, 2018). According to CNN news reports in 2017, the Walk Free Foundation Global Slavery Index is approximately 36 million people who have been subjected to the modern ways of slavery. Among the 43 million, India, China, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan contributed about 60%, where collateral debt bondage was the main factor (Gallagher, 2017). Among the Israelites, the primary causes for slavery were poverty, debt, law breaking and failure to pay restitution, and betrothal processes for women.
Also, another common subject in the passage is the punishment for capital crimes, which is also relevant in the modern society. According to Exodus 21:12-13, a person who murders another man must be put to death unless the other person attacked and put their life in danger (ESV). Therefore, this law forbade murder and its penalty was death. In the same vein, the crime of murder was punishable by death by most countries around the world, until recently when it was abolished by the United Nations, and a life sentence in prison adopted (Schabas, 2019).
And, what contemporary activity would the passage encourage or discourage?
The passage outlines the activities that God considered to be capital crimes, and at the same time provides clarity on the value system of God. In this sense, the passage discourages murder, sexual misconduct, idolatry, and irresponsible death. However, at the same time, the passage encourages the attributes of personal responsibility, and responsibility for others and their properties. Regarding the aspect of personal responsibility, the passage outlines that every man should, and must take responsibility for their actions. Exodus 21:28-29 states that an ox that kills a man or woman must be put to death and its flesh thrown to the dogs; and the owner acquitted unless there have been previous complaints about the ox, then the owner must be stoned to death too. On the other hand, the responsibility of other people and their property is clearly illustrated in the same passage that, if a man steals an ox or any other animal, and uses it for their benefit, they shall repay five times (ESV).
References
Baker, H. (2016). Slavery and Personhood in the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Slavery and Social Death , 15-30.
Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible : English standard version . Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles.
Gallagher, A. T. (2017). What's wrong with the Global Slavery Index?. Anti-Trafficking Review , (8).
Klooster, W., & Padula, A. (Eds.). (2018). The Atlantic World: Essays on Slavery, Migration, and Imagination . Routledge.
Schabas, W. A. (2019). International law and the abolition of the death penalty. In Comparative Capital Punishment . Edward Elgar Publishing.
Sheppard, C. (2017). Challenging systemic racism in Canada. In Race and Inequality (pp. 57-76). Routledge.
Spellman, C. E. (2017). Book Review: ESV Reader's Bible. Exodus 21-23
