15:12 If your fellow Hebrew 9 – whether male or female 10 – is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you must let that servant 11 go free. 12
22:1 When you see 13 your neighbor’s 14 ox or sheep going astray, do not ignore it; 15 you must return it without fail 16 to your neighbor.
13:6 Suppose your own full brother, 31 your son, your daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend should seduce you secretly and encourage you to go and serve other gods 32 that neither you nor your ancestors 33 have previously known, 34
15:7 If a fellow Israelite 35 from one of your villages 36 in the land that the Lord your God is giving you should be poor, you must not harden your heart or be insensitive 37 to his impoverished condition. 38
1 tn Heb “your brother.”
2 tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, indicated in the translation by the words “without fail.”
3 tn Heb “your brothers,” but not referring to siblings (cf. NIV “your brother Israelites”; NLT “a fellow Israelite”). The same phrase also occurs in v. 20.
4 tn Heb “your brothers.” See the preceding note on “fellow citizens.”
3 tn Heb “your brother” (also later in this verse).
4 tn Heb “is not.” The idea of “residing” is implied.
5 tn Heb “and you do not know him.”
6 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the ox or sheep mentioned in v. 1) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 sn Elsewhere in the OT, the Israelites are called “Hebrews” (עִבְרִי, ’ivriy) by outsiders, rarely by themselves (cf. Gen 14:13; 39:14, 17; 41:12; Exod 1:15, 16, 19; 2:6, 7, 11, 13; 1 Sam 4:6; Jonah 1:9). Thus, here and in the parallel passage in Exod 21:2-6 the term עִבְרִי may designate non-Israelites, specifically a people well-known throughout the ancient Near East as ’apiru or habiru. They lived a rather vagabond lifestyle, frequently hiring themselves out as laborers or mercenary soldiers. While accounting nicely for the surprising use of the term here in an Israelite law code, the suggestion has against it the unlikelihood that a set of laws would address such a marginal people so specifically (as opposed to simply calling them aliens or the like). More likely עִבְרִי is chosen as a term to remind Israel that when they were “Hebrews,” that is, when they were in Egypt, they were slaves. Now that they are free they must not keep their fellow Israelites in economic bondage. See v. 15.
5 tn Heb “your brother, a Hebrew (male) or Hebrew (female).”
6 tn Heb “him.” The singular pronoun occurs throughout the passage.
7 tn The Hebrew text includes “from you.”
5 tn Heb “you must not see,” but, if translated literally into English, the statement is misleading.
6 tn Heb “brother’s” (also later in this verse). In this context it is not limited to one’s siblings, however; cf. NAB “your kinsman’s.”
7 tn Heb “hide yourself.”
8 tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, which the translation indicates with the words “without fail.”
6 tn Heb “your brother” (also in v. 4).
7 tn Heb “you must not hide yourself.”
7 tn Heb “you must not see.” See note at 22:1.
8 tn Heb “and (must not) hide yourself from them.”
9 tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, which the translation indicates with “be sure.”
10 tn Heb “help him to lift them up.” In keeping with English style the singular is used in the translation, and the referent (“the animal”) has been specified for clarity.
8 tn Heb “brother.”
9 tn Heb “sojourner.”
9 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the judge) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10 tn Heb “Forty blows he may strike him”; however, since the judge is to witness the punishment (v. 2) it is unlikely the judge himself administered it.
11 tn Heb “your brothers” but not limited only to an actual sibling; cf. NAB) “your kinsman”; NRSV, NLT “your neighbor.”
10 tn In the Hebrew text the forms translated “you will die…and join” are imperatives, but the actions in view cannot really be commanded. The imperative is used here in a rhetorical, emphatic manner to indicate the certainty of Moses’ death on the mountain. On the rhetorical use of the imperative see IBHS 572 §34.4c.
11 tn Heb “be gathered to your people.” The same phrase occurs again later in this verse.
12 sn Mount Hor. See note on the name “Moserah” in Deut 10:6.
11 tn Heb “your brother, the son of your mother.” In a polygamous society it was not rare to have half brothers and sisters by way of a common father and different mothers.
12 tn In the Hebrew text these words are in the form of a brief quotation: “entice you secretly saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods.’”
13 tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 17).
14 tn Heb “which you have not known, you or your fathers.” (cf. KJV, ASV; on “fathers” cf. v. 18).
12 tn Heb “one of your brothers” (so NASB); NAB “one of your kinsmen”; NRSV “a member of your community.” See the note at v. 2.
13 tn Heb “gates.”
14 tn Heb “withdraw your hand.” Cf. NIV “hardhearted or tightfisted” (NRSV and NLT similar).
15 tn Heb “from your needy brother.”