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Die Rechte israelitischer Sklaven und Sklavinnen (5. Mose 15,12‒18)

21 »Gib den Israeliten folgende Gesetze weiter:

Wenn ein Israelit sich wegen seiner Armut als Sklave an einen anderen Israeliten verkauft hat, soll er sechs Jahre lang für ihn arbeiten. Im siebten Jahr soll er freigelassen werden, ohne dass ihn jemand freikaufen muss.

Ist er unverheiratet gekommen, soll er auch als Lediger wieder gehen. Ist er als Verheirateter gekommen, soll er zusammen mit seiner Frau wieder gehen. Hat ihm jedoch sein Herr während dieser Zeit eine Frau gegeben, mit der er nun Kinder hat, dann bleiben die Frau und die Kinder Eigentum des Herrn. Nur der Sklave selbst wird im siebten Jahr wieder frei.

Doch wenn er an seinem Herrn hängt, wenn er seine Frau und die Kinder liebt und darum nicht frei sein will, soll sein Herr mit ihm zum Heiligtum kommen und die Entscheidung dort bestätigen lassen. Danach soll er den Sklaven an den Türpfosten stellen und mit einem spitzen Werkzeug ein Loch in sein Ohrläppchen bohren. Nun muss der Sklave auf Lebenszeit bei seinem Herrn bleiben.

Wenn jemand seine Tochter als Sklavin verkauft hat, darf sie im siebten Jahr nicht zu denselben Bedingungen freigelassen werden wie ein Sklave. Wenn ihr Herr sie für sich als Ehefrau bestimmt hatte, sie ihm aber nicht gefällt, muss er ihren Verwandten anbieten, sie freizukaufen. Er hat nicht das Recht, sie an Ausländer weiterzuverkaufen, denn er hat sein Eheversprechen nicht gehalten.

Hat er sie für seinen Sohn als Frau bestimmt, muss er sie rechtlich einer Tochter gleichstellen.

10 Wenn er sie jedoch selber heiratet und nach ihr noch eine zweite Frau nimmt, darf er die erste nicht benachteiligen. Er muss ihr Nahrung und Kleidung geben und wie bisher den ehelichen Verkehr mit ihr pflegen. 11 Wenn er diese drei Verpflichtungen ihr gegenüber nicht erfüllt, muss er sie freilassen, ohne Geld für sie zu bekommen.«

Strafen für schwere Verbrechen

12 »Wer einen Menschen schlägt und dabei so schwer verletzt, dass er stirbt, muss mit dem Tod bestraft werden. 13 Hat er ihn aber nicht mit Absicht getötet, sondern durch einen Unfall, den ich, euer Gott, geschehen ließ, dann soll er an einen Ort fliehen, den ich bestimmen werde. 14 Doch wer einen Menschen vorsätzlich und heimtückisch umbringt, der muss sterben. Selbst wenn er an meinem Altar Schutz sucht, sollt ihr ihn von dort wegholen und töten.

15 Wer seinen Vater oder seine Mutter schlägt, soll mit dem Tod bestraft werden.

16 Wer einen Menschen entführt, muss ebenfalls getötet werden, ganz gleich ob der Entführte schon als Sklave verkauft wurde oder sich noch in der Gewalt des Entführers befindet.

17 Auch wer seinen Vater oder seine Mutter verflucht, muss sterben.«

Körperverletzungen

18 »Wenn ein Mann einen anderen im Streit mit einem Stein oder der Faust so verletzt, dass er zwar nicht stirbt, aber bettlägerig wird, dann soll der Schuldige bestraft werden. 19 Er kann nur dann straffrei bleiben, wenn der Verletzte wieder aufstehen und am Stock umhergehen kann. Er muss ihn aber auf jeden Fall gesundpflegen lassen und für die Zeit entschädigen, in der er nicht arbeiten konnte.

20-21 Schlägt ein Herr seinen Sklaven mit einem Stock so sehr, dass er auf der Stelle stirbt, muss der Besitzer die gerechte Strafe bekommen. Ist der Sklave aber nach ein bis zwei Tagen wieder auf den Beinen, soll der Besitzer nicht bestraft werden; der Sklave ist schließlich sein Eigentum.[a] Dasselbe gilt für Sklavinnen.

22 Wenn Männer im Streit handgreiflich werden und dabei eine schwangere Frau so stoßen, dass sie eine Frühgeburt[b] hat, aber keine weiteren Verletzungen erleidet, soll dem Schuldigen eine Geldstrafe auferlegt werden. Die Höhe der Strafe wird vom Ehemann festgelegt und muss durch ein Gericht bestätigt werden.

23 Wenn die Frau oder das Kind aber einen Schaden davontragen,[c] dann wird die Strafe nach dem Grundsatz festgelegt: Leben um Leben, 24 Auge um Auge, Zahn um Zahn, Hand um Hand, Fuß um Fuß, 25 Brandmal um Brandmal, Wunde um Wunde, Strieme um Strieme.

26 Wenn ein Herr seinen Sklaven so schlägt, dass er dabei ein Auge verliert, soll er ihn zur Entschädigung freilassen. 27 Schlägt er ihm einen Zahn aus, soll er ihn dafür ebenfalls freilassen. Dasselbe gilt für Sklavinnen.«

Schadensersatz

28 »Wenn ein Rind einen Mann oder eine Frau so stößt, dass sie sterben, muss das Rind gesteinigt werden, und niemand darf von seinem Fleisch essen; der Besitzer aber geht straffrei aus. 29 Falls aber das Rind schon vorher auf Menschen losgegangen ist und der Besitzer es trotz Warnung nicht eingesperrt hat, muss das Tier gesteinigt werden, und auch der Besitzer soll sterben. 30 Ihr könnt ihm aber die Möglichkeit geben, sich durch ein Sühnegeld freizukaufen. Dieses Geld muss er in voller Höhe zahlen.

31 Das gilt auch dann, wenn das Tier einen Jungen oder ein Mädchen tödlich verletzt hat. 32 Tötet das Rind einen Sklaven oder eine Sklavin, muss der Besitzer ihrem Herrn 30 Silberstücke bezahlen, und das Tier soll gesteinigt werden.

33 Wenn jemand die Abdeckung von einer Zisterne wegnimmt oder eine Zisterne neu aushebt und die Öffnung nicht zudeckt, und ein Rind oder Esel fällt hinein, 34 dann muss der Besitzer der Zisterne Schadensersatz leisten. Er soll dem Besitzer des Tieres den Wert erstatten, das tote Tier aber gehört ihm.

35 Wenn ein Rind das eines anderen niederstößt und tötet, sollen beide Besitzer das lebende Rind verkaufen und sich den Erlös teilen; ebenso sollen sie das tote Tier unter sich aufteilen. 36 Wenn aber das Rind schon vorher auf andere Tiere losgegangen ist und sein Besitzer es trotz Warnung nicht eingesperrt hat, dann muss er das tote Rind durch eines seiner Tiere ersetzen; das getötete Tier aber gehört ihm.«

Gesetze zum Schutz des Eigentums

37 »Hat jemand ein Rind oder Schaf gestohlen und es geschlachtet oder verkauft, dann soll er für ein gestohlenes Rind fünf Rinder erstatten und für ein gestohlenes Schaf vier Schafe.

Footnotes

  1. 21,20‒21 Oder: Bleibt der Sklave aber noch ein bis zwei Tage am Leben, soll der Besitzer nicht bestraft werden; der Verlust seines Eigentums ist Strafe genug.
  2. 21,22 Oder: Fehlgeburt.
  3. 21,23 Oder: Wenn die Frau aber noch weiteren Schaden erleidet.

21 Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.

If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.

If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.

And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:

Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.

If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.

And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.

10 If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.

11 And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.

12 He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.

13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.

16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

18 And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:

19 If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.

20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.

21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.

22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.

23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,

24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

26 And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.

27 And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.

28 If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.

29 But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.

30 If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.

31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.

32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

33 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;

34 The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.

35 And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.

36 Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.

Laws About Slaves

21 “Now these are the (A)rules that you shall set before them. (B)When you buy a Hebrew slave,[a] he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out alone. But (C)if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then his master shall bring him to (D)God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.

“When a man (E)sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has designated her[b] for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or (F)her marital rights. 11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.

12 (G)“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 13 (H)But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then (I)I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, (J)you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.

16 (K)“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found (L)in possession of him, shall be put to death.

17 (M)“Whoever curses[c] his father or his mother shall be put to death.

18 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, 19 then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.

20 “When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. 21 But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the (N)slave is his money.

22 “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and (O)he shall pay as the (P)judges determine. 23 But if there is harm,[d] then you shall pay (Q)life for life, 24 (R)eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

26 “When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. 27 If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.

28 “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the (S)ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. 29 But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If (T)a ransom is imposed on him, then (U)he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him. 31 If it gores a man's son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to this same rule. 32 If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master (V)thirty shekels[e] of silver, and (W)the ox shall be stoned.

Laws About Restitution

33 “When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restoration. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead beast shall be his.

35 “When one man's ox butts another's, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and share its price, and the dead beast also they shall share. 36 Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:2 Or servant; the Hebrew term ‘ebed designates a range of social and economic roles; also verses 5, 6, 7, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32 (see Preface)
  2. Exodus 21:8 Or so that he has not designated her
  3. Exodus 21:17 Or dishonors; Septuagint reviles
  4. Exodus 21:23 Or so that her children come out and it is clear who was to blame, he shall be fined as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he alone shall pay. 23 If it is unclear who was to blame
  5. Exodus 21:32 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams

Laws for Living

21 Then God said to Moses, “These are the ·laws for living [regulations] that you will ·give to the Israelites [L set before them]:

“·If [or When] you buy a Hebrew slave, he will serve you for six years. In the seventh year you are to set him free, ·and he will have to pay nothing [with no debt]. If he ·is not married when he becomes your slave [L came single/alone], he must leave ·without a wife [L single; alone]. But if he ·is married when he becomes your slave [L comes in with a wife], he may ·take [L go out with] his wife with him. If the slave’s master gives him a wife, and she gives birth to sons or daughters, the woman and her children will belong to the master. ·When the slave is set free, only he may leave [L He will go out single/alone].

“But if the slave says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children, and I don’t want to go free,’ then the slave’s master must take him to ·God [T the judges; C Hebrew: Elohim]. The master is to take him to a door or ·doorframe [doorpost] and ·punch a hole through [pierce] the slave’s ear using ·a sharp tool [an awl]. Then the slave will serve that master all his life.

“·If [or When] a man sells his daughter as a slave, ·the rules for setting her free are different from the rules for setting the male slaves free [L she will not go out like male slaves go out]. If ·the master wanted to marry her but then decided he was not pleased with her [L she does not please her master who designated her for himself], he must let ·one of her close relatives buy her back [L her be redeemed]. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has treated her unfairly. If the man ·who bought her promises to let the woman marry [L designated her for] his son, he must ·treat her as [give her the rights of] a daughter. 10 If ·the man who bought her marries another woman [he takes another wife], he must not ·keep his first wife from having [deprive her of] food or clothing or ·sexual relations [marital rights]. 11 If he does not give her these three things, she may go free, ·and she owes him no money [L with no debt; Lev. 25:39–43; Deut. 15:12–18].

Laws About Injuries

12 “Anyone who ·hits [strikes] a person and kills him must be put to death. 13 But if a person kills someone ·accidentally [without premeditation], God allowed that to happen, so ·the person must go to a place I will choose [L I will appoint for you a place to which the person may flee; Josh. 20:1–9]. 14 But if someone plans and murders another person on purpose, put him to death, even if he has run to my altar for safety.

15 “Anyone who ·hits [strikes] his father or his mother must be put to death.

16 “Anyone who kidnaps someone and either sells him as a slave or ·still has him when he is caught [L he is found in his hand] must be put to death.

17 “Anyone who ·says cruel things to [curses] his father or mother must be put to death.

18 “If two men ·argue [quarrel; contend], and one hits ·the other [L his neighbor] with a rock or with his ·fist [or tool], the one who is hurt but not killed might have to stay in bed. 19 Later if he is able to get up and walk around outside with his ·walking stick [staff], the one who hit him ·is not to be punished [has no liability]. But he must pay the injured man for the loss of his time, and he must support the injured man until he is completely healed.

20 “If a man ·beats [strikes] his male or female slave with a ·stick [rod], and the slave dies on the spot, the owner must be punished. 21 But if the slave gets well after a day or two, the owner will not be punished since the slave belongs to him.

22 “Suppose two men are fighting and ·hit [injure] a pregnant woman, causing ·the baby to come out [or a miscarriage; C the Hebrew is not clear whether dead or alive]. If there is no further ·injury [harm], the man who caused the accident must pay money—whatever amount the woman’s husband says and the court allows. 23 But if there is further ·injury [harm], then ·the punishment that must be paid is [L you shall give] life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise [C to guard against excessive punishment].

26 “If a man ·hits [strikes] his male or female slave in the eye, and ·the eye is blinded [L destroys it], the man is to free the slave to pay for the eye. 27 If a master knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, the man is to free the slave to pay for the tooth.

28 “If a man’s ·bull [ox] kills a man or woman, you must kill that bull by ·throwing stones at [stoning] it, and you should not eat ·the bull [L its meat]. But the owner of the bull is ·not guilty [innocent]. 29 However, suppose the ·bull [ox] has ·hurt [gored] people in the past and the owner, though warned, did not ·keep it in a pen [restrain/confine it]. Then if it kills a man or woman, the ·bull [ox] must be stoned to death, and the owner must also be put to death. 30 But if ·the family of the dead person accepts money [L a ransom is imposed on him], the owner of the bull must pay whatever is demanded ·to buy back his life [for his redemption]. 31 Use this same ·law [rule] if the ·bull [ox] ·kills [gores] a person’s son or daughter. 32 If the ·bull [ox] ·kills [gores] a male or female slave, the owner must pay the master ·the price for a new slave, or twelve ounces [L thirty shekels] of silver, and the ·bull [ox] must also be stoned to death.

33 “If a man takes the cover off a pit, or digs a pit and does not cover it, and another man’s ox or donkey comes and falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit must ·pay [compensate] the owner of the animal for the loss. The dead animal will belong to the one who pays.

35 “If a man’s ·bull [ox] ·kills [gores] another man’s ·bull [ox] and it dies, they must sell the ·bull [ox] that is alive. Both men will get half of the money and half of the bull that was killed. 36 But if a person’s ·bull [ox] has ·hurt [gored] other animals in the past and the owner did not ·keep it in a pen [restrain/confine it], that owner must pay bull for bull, and the dead animal is his.

21 “These are the laws(A) you are to set before them:

Hebrew Servants(B)(C)

“If you buy a Hebrew servant,(D) he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free,(E) without paying anything. If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

“But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’(F) then his master must take him before the judges.[a](G) He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce(H) his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.(I)

“If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself,[b] he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. 10 If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.(J) 11 If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.

Personal Injuries

12 “Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.(K) 13 However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place(L) I will designate. 14 But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately,(M) that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.(N)

15 “Anyone who attacks[c] their father or mother is to be put to death.

16 “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death,(O) whether the victim has been sold(P) or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.

17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.(Q)

18 “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist[d] and the victim does not die but is confined to bed, 19 the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed.

20 “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, 21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.(R)

22 “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely[e] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands(S) and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life,(T) 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth,(U) hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

26 “An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.

28 “If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death,(V) and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. 29 If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up(W) and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. 30 However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded.(X) 31 This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. 32 If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels[f](Y) of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death.

33 “If anyone uncovers a pit(Z) or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange.

35 “If anyone’s bull injures someone else’s bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. 36 However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up,(AA) the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:6 Or before God
  2. Exodus 21:8 Or master so that he does not choose her
  3. Exodus 21:15 Or kills
  4. Exodus 21:18 Or with a tool
  5. Exodus 21:22 Or she has a miscarriage
  6. Exodus 21:32 That is, about 12 ounces or about 345 grams