Exodus 21:11

“And if he do not these three unto her, etc.] Not the three things last mentioned; though this sense, Aben Ezra says, many of their interpreters give, which is rejected by him, so do some Christian expositors; but these three things are, espousing her to himself, or to his son, or redeeming her by the hand of her father; that is, letting her be redeemed by him, as the Targum of Jonathan; and so Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Ben Melech: the meaning is, if one or other of these things are not done, then shall she go out free without money; be dismissed from her servitude, and not obliged to pay anything for her freedom; the Targum of Jonathan adds, he shall give her a bill of divorce; that is, the son…”

“If he do not these three unto her - The words express a choice of one of three things. The man was to give the woman, whom he had purchased from her father, her freedom, unless (i) he caused her to be redeemed by a Hebrew master Exodus 21:8; or, (ii) gave her to his son, and treated her as a daughter Exodus 21:9; or, (iii) in the event of his taking another wife Exodus 21:10, unless he allowed her to retain her place and privileges. These rules Exodus 21:7-11 are to be regarded as mitigations of the then existing usages of concubinage. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Exo 21:2 Exodus 21:12”