„Nie wydasz niewolnika jego panu…” (Pwt 23,16–17). Prawo, które wyprzedziło epokę?

Janusz Lemański

doi:10.21697/ct.2022.92.3.01

Published: 2022-09-30

Vol. 92 No. 3 (2022)

"You Shall Not Give up a Slave to His Master…” (Deut 23:16–17): The Law That Preceded Its Epoch?

Janusz Lemański

Collectanea Theologica

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2022.92.3.01

Abstract

The law described in Deut 23:16–17, which urges Israelites not to hand over a slave who has escaped from master, but to embrace him and treat well, stands out not only among the regulations existing in the cultural field of ancient Israel, but also from the Deuteronomic legislation itself (Deut 15:12–18; 22:1–4). It is not easy to determine the moment of the composition of this regulation (before or after the Babylonian exile). In the article, it is assumed that the historical experience of Israel – both suggested by the biblical authors (Israel regarded as slaves liberated out of Egypt) and the actual one (the end of Assyrian domination or the deliverance from Babylonian captivity) – was its inspiration. Although this law regulation was not widely applied, it can still be regarded as a pointing in the right direction in the theological reflection on the issue of slavery in general, as well as on the meaning of the “fraternal community” inhabiting a “good land” offered to the Israelites by YHWH. The example of the treatment of a fugitive slave is an indication to invite to the community all those who are in need.

Keywords:

slavery, slave/servant, good land, social ethos

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Janusz Lemański, Abraham versus Jacob , Collectanea Theologica: Vol. 88 No. 4 (2018)
Janusz Lemański, (Post-)Deuteronomic Prohibition of Transvestitism (Deut 22:5)? The Question of Its Proper Meaning and Motivations , Collectanea Theologica: Vol. 90 No. 1 (2020)
Janusz Lemański, Jephthah and his vow (Jdg 11:29-40) - A Contextual Reading , Collectanea Theologica: Vol. 90 No. 4 (2020)
Janusz Lemański, Hezekiah and the Centralization of Worship (2 Kgs 18:4.22) , Collectanea Theologica: Vol. 92 No. 1 (2022)
Janusz Lemański, Attitudes to Suicide in the Statements of Biblical Authors and Their Narrative and Cultural Context , Collectanea Theologica: Vol. 94 No. 1 (2024)
Janusz Lemański, (Post-)Deuteronomistic Prohibition of Transvestitism (Deut 22:5)? The Question of Its Actual Meaning and Motivations , Collectanea Theologica: Vol. 90 No. 5 (2020): Fasciculus specialis
Janusz Lemański, Abraham versus Jacob , Collectanea Theologica: Vol. 90 No. 5 (2020): Fasciculus specialis

Download files

PDF (Język Polski)

Citation rules

Lemański, J. (2022). "You Shall Not Give up a Slave to His Master…” (Deut 23:16–17): The Law That Preceded Its Epoch?. Collectanea Theologica, 92(3), 5–31. https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2022.92.3.01

Cited by / Share

References

Alexander, T.D., Exodus (Apollos Old Testament Commentary 2; London: Apollos – Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Pres 2017).
Google Scholar

Ancient Near Eastern Texts related to the Old Testament (red. J.B. Pritchard; wyd. 3; Princeton: University Press 1969) (= ANET).
Google Scholar

Beuken, W.A.M., Jesaja 13–27 (Herders Theologischer Kommentar zum Alten Testament; Freibrg – Basel – Wien: Herder 2007).
Google Scholar

Borger, R., Rechtsbücher (red. O. Kaiser et al.; Texte aus der Umwelt des Alten Testaments I/1; Gütersloh: G. Mohn 1982).
Google Scholar

Brueggemann, W., Money and Possessions (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press 2016).
Google Scholar

Cardellini, I., Die biblische “Sklaven”-Gesetze im Lichte des keilschriftlichen Sklavenrechts: ein Beitrag zur Tradition, Überlieferung und Redaktion der alttestamentlichen Rechtstexte (Bonner Biblische Beiträge 55; Bonn: Athenäum 1981).
Google Scholar

Carpenter, E., „ʿbd”, New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis (red. W.A. VanGemeren; Carlisle: Paternoster Press 1997) III, 304–309.
Google Scholar

Clines, D.J.A., „Ethics as Deconstruction”, The Bible in Ethics. The Second Sheffield Colloquium (red. J.W. Rogerson – M.D. Carroll – M. Davies; The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies 207; Sheffield: Academic Press 1995) 77–107.
Google Scholar

Crüsemann, F., The Torah. Theology and Social History of Old Testament Law (Edinburgh: T&T Clark 1994).
Google Scholar

Dietrich, D., Samuel. 1 Samuel 27 – 2 Samuel 8 (Biblischer Kommentar VIII/3; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 2019).
Google Scholar

Dietrich, D., „Sklaverei I. Altes Testament”, Theologische Realenzyklopädie (Berlin, New York: de Gruyter 2000) XXXI, 367–373.
Google Scholar

Fischer, G., Jeremia 1–25 (Herders Theologischer Kommentar zum Alten Testament; Freiburg – Basel – Wien 2005).
Google Scholar

Greenfield, J.C., „Asylum at Aleppo: A Note on Sifre III.4–7”, Ah, Assyria… Studies in Assyrian History and Ancient Near Eastern Historiography presented to Hayim Tadmor (red. M. Cogan – I. Eph‘I; Scripta Hierosolymitana 33; Jerusalem: The Hebrew University Magness Press 1991) 272–278.
Google Scholar

Haas, G.H., „Slave, Slavery”, Dictionary of the Old Testament. Pentateuch (red. T.D. Alexander – D.W. Baker; Downer Grove, IL – Leicester: InterVarsity Press 2003) 778–783.
Google Scholar

Hallo, W.W. (red.), The Context of Scripture. II. Monumental Inscriptions from the Biblical World (Leiden – Boston: Brill 2003).
Google Scholar

Hankins, D., „«Much Madness Is Divinest Sense»: The Economic Consequences of Yahweh’s Parasocial Identity”, The Bible & Critical Theory 14/1 (2018) 17–47, https://www.academia.edu/36762438 (dostęp 3.05.2022).
Google Scholar

Hasse, R., „Minima ad Codicem Hethaeorum pertinentia”, Zeitschrift für die altorientalische und biblische Rechtsgeschichte 8 (2002) 308–322.
Google Scholar

Hempel, J., Die Schichten des Deuteronomiums. Ein Beitrag zur israelitischen Literatur und Rechtsgeschichte (Leipzig: R. Voigtländer 1914).
Google Scholar

Hölscher, G., „Komposition und Ursprung des Deuteronomiums”, Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 40 (1922) 161–255. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/zatw.1922.40.1.161
Google Scholar

Höver-Johag, I, „ṭôb”, Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (red. G.J. Botterweck – H. Ringgren – H.-J. Fabry; (Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge: Eerdmans 1986) V, 296–317.
Google Scholar

Kessler, R., Sozialgeschichte des alten Israels. Eine Einführung (Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft 2006).
Google Scholar

Kodeks Hammurabiego (tł. M. Stępień; Warszawa: Alfa 2000) (= KH).
Google Scholar

Koehler, L. – Baumgartner, W. – Stamm, K.J. (red.), Wielki słownik hebrajsko-polski i aramejsko polski Starego Testamentu (Warszawa: Vocatio 2008) I–II (= KBL).
Google Scholar

Lemański, J., Księga Powtórzonego Prawa (Biblia Lubelska; Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL 2022).
Google Scholar

Lemański, J., Księga Wyjścia (NKB.ST II; Częstochowa: Wydawnictwo św. Pawła 2009).
Google Scholar

Lemański, J., Pięcioksiąg dzisiaj (Kielce: Verbum 2002).
Google Scholar

Lemański, J., Prawo Pana doskonałe – krzepi życie (Ps 19,8a). Kilka refleksji na temat istoty prawa i sprawiedliwości w Starym Testamencie (Studia i Rozprawy 54; Szczecin: Wydawnictwo US 2019).
Google Scholar

Lemański, J., Tora – Pięcioksiąg. Wprowadzenie w zagadnienia teologiczne i historyczno-krytyczne (Szczecin: Wydawnictwo US 2020).
Google Scholar

Levine, E., „On Ex 21,10 ʿonah and Biblical Marriage”, Zeitschrift für die altorientalische und biblische Rechtsgeschichte 5 (1999) 133–164.
Google Scholar

Lipiński, E., Prawo bliskowschodnie w starożytności. Wprowadzenie historyczne (Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL 2009).
Google Scholar

Lundbom, J.R., Deuteronomy. A Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge: Eerdmans 2013).
Google Scholar

Mayes, A.D.H., Deuteronomy (New Century Bible Commentary; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans – London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott 1979; reprint 1991).
Google Scholar

Mendelsohn, I., Slavery in the Ancient Near East (New York, NY: Oxford University Press 1949).
Google Scholar

Merrill, E.H., Deuteronomy (New American Commentary 4; Nashville: Publishing Group 1994).
Google Scholar

Nelson, R.D., Deuteronomy (Old Testament Library; Louisville, KY – London: John Knox Press 2002).
Google Scholar

Nicole, E., „bḥr”, New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis (red. W.A. VanGemeren; Carlisle: Paternoster Press 1997) I, 638–642.
Google Scholar

Nielsen, E., Deuteronomium (Handbuch zum Alten Testament I/6; Tübingen 1995).
Google Scholar

Otto, E., Deuteronomium 23,16–34,12 (Herders Theologischer Kommentar zum Alten Testament; Freiburg – Basel – Wien: Herder 2017).
Google Scholar

Paganini, S., Deuteronomio (I libri biblici. Primo Testamen to; Mila no: Paoline 2011).
Google Scholar

Penna, A., Deuteronomio (La sacra Bibb ia; Ro ma: Marietti 1976).
Google Scholar

Riede, P., „Sklave, Sklaverin”, Neues Bibel-Lexikon (red. M. Görg – B. Lang; Düsseldorf, Zürich: Benziger 2001) III, 616–621.
Google Scholar

Ringgren, H., „yānâ”, Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (red. G.J. Botterweck – H. Ringgren – H.-J. Fabry; Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge: Eerdmans 1990) VI, 104–106.
Google Scholar

Ringgren, H. – Rüterwörden, U. – Simian-Yofre, H., „ʿābad, ʿebed, ʿăbōdâ”, Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (red. G.J. Botterweck – H. Ringgren – H.-J. Fabry; Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge: Eerdmans 1999) X, 376–405.
Google Scholar

Schmidt, W.H., Das Buch Jeremia. Kapitel 21–52 (Alte Testament Deutsch 21; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 2013). DOI: https://doi.org/10.13109/9783666512063
Google Scholar

Seitz, G., Redaktionsgeschichtliche Studien zum Deuteronomium (Beiträge zur Wissenschaft vom Alten und Neuen Testament 93; Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer 1971).
Google Scholar

Snell, D.C., Flight and Freedom in the Ancient Near East (Culture and history of the ancient Near East 8; Leiden – Boston, MA: Brill 2001). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004494053
Google Scholar

Steuernagel, C., Das Deuteronomium. Handkommentar zum Alten Testament (wyd. 2; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 1923).
Google Scholar

Veijola, T., Das 5 Buch Mose. Deuteronomium. Kapitel 1,1–16,17 (Das Alte Testament Deutsch: Neues Göttinger Bibelwerk 8/1; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 2004).
Google Scholar

Weinfeld, M., Deuteronomy and Deuteronomic School (Oxford: Oxford University Press 1972).
Google Scholar

Westbrook, R., „Slave and Master in Ancient Near East Law”, Chicago – Kent-Law Review 70 (1995) 1631–1676, https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu (dostęp 17.06.2022).
Google Scholar

Westbrook, R. (red.), A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law. I–II (Leiden – Boston, MA: Brill 2003). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789047402091
Google Scholar