“When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged.
God shows no respect of persons in matters of bloodshed: He avenges the death of a slave as He does a free man. That masters had power of life and death over slaves was gross barbarism; no man should hold such tyranny over another. Yet the law's exception troubles me: if the slave dies days later from his wounds rather than at once, the master escapes the charge of murder, though lingering cruelty may be far greater than a single blow struck in anger.
AI summary
God guards life by law as surely as He gives it by providence: mercy to a wilful murderer is cruelty to mankind. The man who kills in malice or passion must die, even if he clings to the altar; but if God ordains a death by accident, not the slayer's intent, He appoints refuge for him.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 21:12-21
Masters had the right to correct servants with a rod, but if the servant dies immediately under the blows, death itself follows. The law aims to restrain masters from using severity and cruelty by threatening them with the sword.
AI summary