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Exodus 21:20
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18 “If men contend with each other, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to his bed,
19 if he rises again and walks about outside awith his staff, then he who struck him shall be1 acquitted. He shall only pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for him to be thoroughly healed.  
20 “And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
21 Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his aproperty.  
22 “If men1 fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that2 she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall apay as the judges determine.  
23 But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life,
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Exodus 21:20-21

This case involves a master (an employer) striking and injuring a slave (or an employee). Since the slave did not die immediately, the use of the rod is not considered as lethal. Since the slave's life lingered, the master is given the benefit of the doubt that the striking was disciplinary rather than homicidal. This may seem strict to you, but compared to other nations regarding the treatment of slaves or employees, this law is very liberal. Because in other nations, doing whatever the master felt was necessary was his absolute right, because the slave was considered totally his property. This was not so in Israel, as we will see in just a few moments.

Excerpted from The Sixth Commandment

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The Ten Commandments  



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