„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

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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

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