Exodus 21:1-6 - Marriage Implications and Geneology

[BiblicalLiteralist]

Has anyone done a deep dive into this particular situation and potential reasoning for the women and children staying. The only alternative to remain with hia family, is to pledge everlasting service to the master? Does the woman not go free at all, nor the children?

How does geneology work are the children attrtibuted to the masters house or to the father?

 

[steve]

First of all, notice that it is a Hebrew servant.
Not a Hebrew buying a servant.
This means that he is buying, for one reason or another, an Israelite brother. There was a time limit for those situations, I don’t remember the rules.
If the master is providing a wife who is a permanent servant (non-Israelite/Hebrew) he doesn’t get to take her with him when he leaves.
Her children would also belong to her master.

 

[BiblicalLiteralist]

Right so how does the geneology work and how does the marital covenant work under these circumstances? If the hebrew slave was of one tribe and his master another which tribe would the child be recoreded under? Since the wife cant go out and belongs to the master, does that mean the freed hebrew is not under exodus 21:10 if he goes to build his house? How does the inheritance work? Since she is the property of the master is he not obligated to exodus 21:10's requirements? Or can they only be satisfied by taking option 2? In which he technicaly still wouldn't be the full provider of those things to her, unless you consider by staying and receiving from their master he is by proxy through receipt providing to her those things.

 

[steve]

I haven’t studied any of those questions.
I haven’t found any need to understand the subject that deeply.

 

[Mojo]

I haven’t studied any of those questions.
I haven’t found any need to understand the subject that deeply.

Which leads to my question: Is it a curiosity because of polygyny implications or a curiosity just out of curiosity?

 

[Heavens Declare]

Right so how does the geneology work and how does the marital covenant work under these circumstances? If the hebrew slave was of one tribe and his master another which tribe would the child be recoreded under? Since the wife cant go out and belongs to the master, does that mean the freed hebrew is not under exodus 21:10 if he goes to build his house? How does the inheritance work? Since she is the property of the master is he not obligated to exodus 21:10's requirements? Or can they only be satisfied by taking option 2? In which he technicaly still wouldn't be the full provider of those things to her, unless you consider by staying and receiving from their master he is by proxy through receipt providing to her those things.

I would assume that a man who fathers a child is going to want to stay with his children. He himself may not inherit the estate, but his children might! The reasons he might want to leave could potentially be if he has found uncleanness in the woman, or if he hoped to take his newfound wealth, the way that Jacob did, and start his own business, or it could be that his master is a jacka__ like Laban was, and he is tired of getting the shaft! We aren't told. Jacob however, was not so much a servant of Laban, but rather a hired hand, and Rachel was the wages he had earned, and Leah was as well, although that was never part of the original bargain.

 

[frederick]

Rachel was the wages he had earned, and Leah was as well, although that was never part of the original bargain.

Sometimes one gets more than he bargains for, yet God blessed Jacob with the 12 sons through that addition. Jacob couldn't see how it would work out like we can now from our historical vantage point. A good lesson for us all to trust God for the outcomes in spite of getting used and abused along the way.

 

[BiblicalLiteralist]

Which leads to my question: Is it a curiosity because of polygyny implications or a curiosity just out of curiosity?

Curiosity, Its technically a part of biblical marriage and something I've never seen really explored even though how its handled could provide clarity on our current understanding of biblical marriage (does our current understanding jive with all implications of servitude marriage?). I'm assuming because it touches on servitude no one wants to touch it, in that way its kinda like polygyny to many, but its still apart of the whole law and if we understand that during the millenial reign that will be the bar, then I think its worth exploring.

 

[steve]

if we understand that during the millenial reign that will be the bar, then I think its worth exploring.

TOTALLY with you there.
I like how you think.

 

[Mojo]

Curiosity, Its technically a part of biblical marriage and something I've never seen really explored even though how its handled could provide clarity on our current understanding of biblical marriage (does our current understanding jive with all implications of servitude marriage?). I'm assuming because it touches on servitude no one wants to touch it, in that way its kinda like polygyny to many, but its still apart of the whole law and if we understand that during the millenial reign that will be the bar, then I think its worth exploring.

Cool. Thanks for explaining.