Rights of Slaves The Eighth Commandment Even slaves had rights and dignity. Exodus 21:26, 27 “When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he ...
Hard to Understand The Eighth Commandment Slavery for some was a form of preparation for marriage. Exodus 21:7-11 “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let ...
Slavery and Neighbor-Love The Eighth Commandment Slaves were not to be deprived of neighbor-love. Exodus 21:2-6 “When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then ...
Slavery The Eighth Commandment Slavery in Israel was not as in the American experience. Leviticus 25:44-46 “As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you ...
The Harvest of the Seventh Year The Eighth Commandment Here was a special opportunity for the poor to meet their needs. Exodus 23:10, 11 “For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your ...
A Tithe for the Poor The Eighth Commandment Make sure the poor in your community are loved. Deuteronomy 14:28, 29 “‘At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has ...
The Motivation for Neighbor-love The Eighth Commandment We were all at one time poor and slaves. Deuteronomy 24:19-22 “‘When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the ...
Workfare The Eighth Commandment The poor must work to retain their dignity, though poor. Leviticus 23:22 “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for ...
Lending without Personal Gain The Eighth Commandment Love must guide our concern for our neighbors, not gain. Deuteronomy 15:9-10 “‘Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, “The seventh year, the year of release is near,” and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give ...
Care for the Disabled The Eighth Commandment God cares for the disabled, and so must we. Leviticus 19:14 “You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.” Communities in ancient Israel were expected to “go the extra mile” with those ...