Exodus 21:16

21:16 “Whoever kidnaps someone ¹  and sells him, ²  or is caught still holding him, ³  must surely be put to death.

Deuteronomy 24:7

24:7 If a man is found kidnapping a person from among his fellow Israelites, ⁴  and regards him as mere property ⁵  and sells him, that kidnapper ⁶  must die. In this way you will purge ⁷  evil from among you.

[21:16]  ¹ tn Heb “a stealer of a man,” thus “anyone stealing a man.”

[21:16]  ² sn The implication is that it would be an Israelite citizen who was kidnapped and sold to a foreign tribe or country (like Joseph). There was always a market for slaves. The crime would be in forcibly taking the individual away from his home and religion and putting him into bondage or death.

[21:16]  ³ tn Literally “and he is found in his hand” (KJV and ASV both similar), being not yet sold.

[24:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “from his brothers, from the sons of Israel.” The terms “brothers” and “sons of Israel” are in apposition; the second defines the first more specifically.

[24:7]  ⁵ tn Or “and enslaves him.”

[24:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “that thief.”

[24:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “burn.” See note on the word “purge” in Deut 19:19.