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Patriarchs and Prophets
principles of God’s ten precepts. That the obligations of the Decalogue
might be more fully understood and enforced, additional precepts were
given, illustrating and applying the principles of the Ten Command-
ments. These laws were called judgments, both because they were
framed in infinite wisdom and equity and because the magistrates were
to give judgment according to them. Unlike the Ten Commandments,
they were delivered privately to Moses, who was to communicate them
to the people.
The first of these laws related to servants. In ancient times criminals
were sometimes sold into slavery by the judges; in some cases, debtors
were sold by their creditors; and poverty even led persons to sell
themselves or their children. But a Hebrew could not be sold as a slave
for life. His term of service was limited to six years; on the seventh he
was to be set at liberty. Manstealing, deliberate murder, and rebellion
against parental authority were to be punished with death. The holding
of slaves not of Israelitish birth was permitted, but their life and person
were strictly guarded. The murderer of a slave was to be punished; an
injury inflicted upon one by his master, though no more than the loss
of a tooth, entitled him to his freedom.
The Israelites had lately been servants themselves, and now that
they were to have servants under them, they were to beware of in-
dulging the spirit of cruelty and exaction from which they had suffered
under their Egyptian taskmasters. The memory of their own bitter
servitude should enable them to put themselves in the servant’s place,
leading them to be kind and compassionate, to deal with others as they
would wish to be dealt with.
The rights of widows and orphans were especially guarded, and a
tender regard for their helpless condition was enjoined. “If thou afflict
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them in any wise,” the Lord declared, “and they cry at all unto Me,
I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath shall wax hot, and I will
kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your
children fatherless.” Aliens who united themselves with Israel were
to be protected from wrong or oppression. “Thou shalt not oppress a
stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers
in the land of Egypt.”
The taking of usury from the poor was forbidden. A poor man’s rai-
ment or blanket taken as a pledge, must be restored to him at nightfall.
He who was guilty of theft was required to restore double. Respect