Culture, Justice, Mishegas, Religion

In our mouths and in our hearts: Day 41

(Introduction.)
Today: Oppression (pro and con).
496. “When you see the ass of your enemy lying under its burden and would refrain from raising it, you must nevertheless raise it with him.” (Exodus 23:5) = unloading the burden
497. “You must help him/her raise it.” (Deuteronomy 22:4) = continuation of #498. loading the burden back on
498. “If you see your fellow’s ass or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it.” (Deuteronomy 22:4)
499. “When you sell property to your neighbor, or buy any from your neighbor…” (Leviticus 25:14) = the laws of buying and selling
500. “…you shall not wrong one another.” (Leviticus 25:14) = wronging with property (ona’at mamon) – overcharging, etc.
501. “Do not wrong one another.” (Leviticus 25:17) = wronging with words (ona’at devarim)
502. “You shall not oppress [a stranger], for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 22:20) = don’t wrong a convert with property (ona’at mamon)
503. “You shall not wrong a stranger.” (Exodus 22:20) = don’t wrong a convert with words (ona’at devarim)
504. “When you acquire a Hebrew slave…” (Exodus 21:2) = the laws of buying Hebrew slaves
505. “They shall not give themselves over into servitude.” (Leviticus 25:42) = don’t sell Hebrew slaves the way slaves are sold
506. “You shall not rule over him ruthlessly.” (Leviticus 25:43) = don’t overwork your Hebrew slave
507. “He shall not rule ruthlessly over him in your sight.” (Leviticus 25:53) = and don’t let a resident alien overwork your Hebrew slave either
508. “Do not subject him to the treatment of a slave.” (Leviticus 25:39) = don’t have your Hebrew slaves do slave labor
509. “Furnish him out of the flock, threshing floor, and vat, with which Adonai your God has blessed you.” (Deuteronomy 15:14) = when your Hebrew slave goes free
510. “When you set him free, do not let him go empty-handed.” (Deuteronomy 15:13)

2 thoughts on “In our mouths and in our hearts: Day 41

  1. If this isn’t proof that many of the Torah’s mitzvot represent steps along a journey and not necessarily final destinations, I don’t know what is. I’m really glad that Jews don’t own slaves anymore (and I wish slavery didn’t exist anywhere else either).

  2. eved ivri[[laws about jewish slaves] isn’t all that bad. . . though eved kna’ani[non-jewish slaves] is.

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