Jeremiah 34:9

“That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, [being] an Hebrew, or an Hebrewess, go free, etc.] This is the proclamation that was agreed to be made, that every manservant and maidservant, that serve six years an apprenticeship, should be freed from their servitude, according to the law in (<022101>Exodus 21:1,2); a law founded upon justice and equity, mercy and compassion; done for the honour of the Jewish nation, that they might be a free people, and in commemoration of their deliverance from their servitude in Egypt. This law, as it seems, had been long neglected, and servants had been retained in bondage beyond their due time, through the oppression and…”

“none . . . serve himself of a Jew-- (Lev 25:39-46).”

“It is usual with commentators to say that, the laws dealing with the emancipation of the Hebrew slaves, as also that of the land resting during the sabbatical year, were not observed. The narrative teaches us the exact contrary. The manumission of the slaves on the present occasion was the spontaneous act of Zedekiah and the people. They knew of the law, and acknowledged its obligation. The observance of it was, no doubt, lax: the majority let their own selfish interests prevail; but the minority made might give way to right, and Zedekiah supported their efforts though only in a weak way. Early in January, in the ninth year of Zedekiah, the Chaldaean army approached Jerusalem. The people…”

“Hebrew: Gen 14:13, Gen 40:15; Exo 2:6, Exo 3:18; Deu 15:12; Sa1 4:6, Sa1 4:9, Sa1 14:11; Co2 11:22; Phi 3:5 serve: Jer 34:10, Jer 25:14, Jer 27:7, Jer 30:8; Co1 6:8 Jeremiah 34:10”