READING FOR JULY 10, 2024: EXODUS 21, 1 THESSELONIANS 4, PSALM 66:13-20 EXODUS 21This might be a chapter we’re tempted to skip because of all the legalese. Let’s commit to the opposite to see if there’s a rewardfor getting into the weeds. If we decide after the fact there wasn’t, we can all grumble (in the tradition of the Israelites). These ordinances were given by God for purposes of guiding judges but had no legislative input from the people. These wasstill a role for judges to discern intent and mitigating circumstances.
Verse 2 addresses the buying of Hebrew slaves. Although slave-purchasing was already common in this era, this passage in no way advocates for it but regulates it. Notice how much more humane this practice was compared with American slavery. Hebrews slaves had full human rights. They were also propertybut more in the sense that sports figures today are the property of their professional team. Why might a Hebrew become slave? Some reasons: 1) person has no resources (Lev. 25:39); 2) father seeks a marriage for his daughter (Ex. 21:7); 3) person cannot pay his creditors (2 Kings 4:1); and 4) thief had no money to pay restitution (Ex. 22:3-4).
Slavery was a temporary life condition lasting six years. Masters were not allowed to split up families who entered servitude as a unit. Only if the master gave the slave a wife and the slave decided to leave after six years, could families be disunited; the slave, however, had the option to remain with his wife, children, and master because of his love for them.
Daughters sold into slavery by fathers for purposes of eventual marriage to the master could be redeemed by the father if thepurchaser got cold feet. The same if the master purchased her for his son. If after she is married and a second wife is taken, she still retains all her wifely rights. Otherwise, she is freed without any redemption fee.
Have you seen those commercials by personal injury lawyers, such as Ken Nunn and the Hammer? This next section eliminated the need for those lawyers and commercials. Premeditated murder was punishable by death, but if it was not premeditated the perpetrator needed to flee for refuge. Murdering or cursing one’s parents was a capital offence, as was kidnapping (making the Amercian practice of slave tradingimpossible). Inflicting non-lethal injuries required compensation for time loss and costs. Lethal injuries to one’sown slaves were punished if death was immediate. If not,apparently the judgment was death wasn’t the intent and the loss of labor caused the master to lose income, making it afinancial penalty.
With available space rapidly diminishing, the rest of this chapter’s review will focus on injuries to pregnant women as they relate to the abortion issue. The situation: two men are fighting, and a pregnant woman is accidently hit causing her to give birth prematurely. Pro-choice
READING FOR JULY 10, 2024 CONTINUED: EXODUS 21, 1 THESSELONIANS 4, PSALM 66:13-20 scholars interpret this event as a miscarriage and that the text suggestsno injury took place. Therefore, only a fine is levied, unless harm occurs to the woman. Pro-life scholars say if no injury takes place to either the mother or born baby then only a fineis levied. But if harm occurs to either mother or child, a proportional penalty is assessed, possibly a death penalty.
Possible interpretive factors:
• The Hebrew word used in this passage (Ex. 21:28) is “yatsa” roughly meaning “brings or goes forth.”
• Exodus 23:26 states, “There will be no one miscarrying.” The Hebrew word used here is “meshakelah.”
• Genesis 38:30 used “yatsu” describing Esau’s birth: “Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand.” The use of “yatsu” suggests Exodus 21:28 does not refer to a miscarriage but a successful premature birth. Thus, the death penalty is not assessed since no abortion resulted.
1 THESSALONIANS 4 Paul told the Thessalonian church to be pure sexually. He said, otherwise they are rejecting God’sinstructions, not man’s (vs 8). God the Son’s instructionaround A.D. 30 is exactly the same that God the Father gave many thousands of years before: “At the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matt. 19:4-6). SEEMS CLEAR ENOUGH.
It appears that Paul was getting some questions asking if believers who die miss out when Jesus returns. Here’s asummary of his response from this letter and 2 Corinthians:
• When we die, we leave our earthly bodies, and our souls are present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6-8).
• When Jesus descends from heaven to earth, first those who already physically died will have their resurrected bodies united with the souls.
• Then those who didn’t die physically will join those with resurrected bodies to meet Jesus in the air.
PSALM 66:13-20 As we have read, the Psalmist often gets into extremely dangerous situations. It seems during one of these he made a vow to God if God would rescue him. Now the Psalmistis resolved to do so. Have we ever said to God, “If You do this, I will do A, B, C?” If so, we should do A, B, C. In the Psalmist’s case, he went beyond the minimum, sacrificing the fat portions of a variety of animals. Then he went even beyondthat. He called over folks to tell them everything God did for him.
He concludes with something like a logical syllogism but showing God’s mercy beyond logic:
Premise 1. God doesn’t listen to those with sin in their hearts;and
Premise 2. God heard the Psalmist’s prayers; Therefore,
Conclusion. God extended His mercy to the Psalmist (instead of what we would expect: the Psalmist had no sin).
