Exodus 21:21

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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,

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Exodus 21:21

If the slave who had been beaten by his master died under his hand, the master was punished with death - see Genesis 9:5, Genesis 9:6. But if he survived the beating a day or two the master was not punished, because it might be presumed that the man died through some other cause. And all penal laws should be construed as favourably as possible to the accused.

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