Leviticus 25:42

WEB

For they are my servants, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold as slaves.

KJV

For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.

Commentary

For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt,.... The Lord redeemed them out of Egypt, made a purchase of them, and had a prior right unto them, and being his servants first, they cannot be the serva nts of others; his right unto them as such antecedes and prevents any other claim upon them: they shall not be sold as bondmen; or, "with", or, "according to the sale of a bondman" (u); in the manner they are sold, or according to the laws of selling of servants; not in such a public manner as they are sold in markets, nor for such purposes to be used as slaves in a rigorous manner, nor so as to be retained for ever in servitude; not to be sold by proclamation, as Jarchi observes, saying, here is a servant to be sold; nor shall they set him upon the stone of sale; for it seems in public places in markets, where slaves were sold, there was a stone on which they were placed, which showed that they were to be sold; but now an Israelite was not to be sold in such a manner, so Maimonides (w) says, but privately, in an honourable way. (u) "venditione servi", Drusius. (w) Hilchot Abadim, c. 1. sect. 5.