Study Desk

If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve you for six years. In the seventh year he is to be set free without having to pay anything.

then his master shall take him to the place of worship. There he is to make him stand against the door or the doorpost and put a hole through his ear. Then he will be his slave for life.

But if it was an accident and he did not mean to kill him, he can escape to a place which I will choose for you, and there he will be safe.

But when someone gets angry and deliberately kills someone else, he is to be put to death, even if he has run to my altar for safety.

"If there is a fight and someone hits someone else with a stone or with his fist, but does not kill him, he is not to be punished. If the one who was hit has to stay in bed, but later is able to get up and walk outside with the help of a cane, the one who hit him is to pay for his lost time and take care of him until he gets well.

But if the slave does not die for a day or two, the master is not to be punished. The loss of his property is punishment enough.

But if the woman herself is injured, the punishment shall be life for life,

eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

"If someone hits his male or female slave in the eye and puts it out, he is to free the slave as payment for the eye.

If he knocks out a tooth, he is to free the slave as payment for the tooth.

he must pay for the animal. He is to pay the money to the owner and may keep the dead animal.

"If someone steals a cow or a sheep and kills it or sells it, he must pay five cows for one cow and four sheep for one sheep.

He must pay for what he stole. If he owns nothing, he shall be sold as a slave to pay for what he has stolen. If the stolen animal, whether a cow, a donkey, or a sheep, is found alive in his possession, he shall pay two for one. "If a thief is caught breaking into a house at night and is killed, the one who killed him is not guilty of murder. But if it happens during the day, he is guilty of murder.

"If someone starts a fire in his own field and it spreads through the weeds to someone else's field and burns up grain that is growing or that has been cut and stacked, the one who started the fire is to pay for the damage.

"If anyone agrees to keep someone else's money or other valuables for him and they are stolen from his house, the thief, if found, shall repay double.

"If anyone agrees to keep someone else's donkey, cow, sheep, or other animal for him, and the animal dies or is injured or is carried off in a raid, and if there was no witness,

If it was killed by wild animals, the man is to bring the remains as evidence; he need not pay for what has been killed by wild animals.

"If anyone borrows an animal from someone else and it is injured or dies when its owner is not present, he must pay for it.

"If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged, he must pay the bride price for her and marry her.