In Reply to: reference please posted by student on October 05, 2006 at 13:58:08:
First of all, I just checked out the rules about setting indebted servants free (in Deuteronomy 15:12-18) and you're right, they had to treat them well and even load them down with good stuff when they went free. God's blessing on the master depended on how well he treated his slaves. I also checked in another book and sure enough, by Jesus' day, there were jobs that Jewish masters couldn't make other Jewish slaves/servants do.
But back to my question, the reference is Exodus 21:20 and 26-27, NIV translation:
"20. If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a result, he [the master] must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property."
"26. If a man hits a manservant or maidservant in the eye and destroys it, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the eye. 27. And if he knocks out the tooth of a manservant or maidservant,he must let the servant go free to compensate for the tooth."
So you could generally beat a servant all you wanted, so long as you didn't damage his eyes, his teeth or kill him. As long as he was able to get back up on his feet after a day or two, it was accepted by the law of the day.
I realize beating slaves was standard practice in the ancient world and the Hebrew code was probably more humane than the other civilizations but still, this seems harsh. I also realize that many Israelite masters may have been gentle and not inclined to beat, especially since they knew God would bless them according to how they treated their slaves. But the law did allow them to lay quite a beating on them.
I also realize that the law was not always enacted in full measure. For e.g. a wife caught in adultery was to be stoned, but by Jesus' day Joseph was only "minded to put Mary away privately" instead of stoning her. I don't think that was just a New Testament or Christian take on things either. I think Joseph was an observant Jew and was following the Jewish customs of the times.
Anyway, back to my question on beating slaves till it took them two days till recover, any thoughts on that?