Exodus 21

Exodus 21:2

In the seventh] In the Seventh and Sabbatical year, beginning in September, as the Iubile did, The Book of the Law was to be read publikely and solemnly in the beginning of that year; The Land was to rest from Culture; Lendings vouchsafed to poor Hebrews, and then due, were to be released, and intermitted, if not clean remitted, Luke VI. 35. Hebrew servants, both men and women, though bought, if not redeemed before, were to go out free, if themselves would, and that liberally furnished, Exod. XXI. 2,—7. and XXIII. 11, 16. Levit. XXV. 4, 5, 6, 7, 20, 21, 22. Deut. XV. 1,—18. Jer. XXXIV. 14.

Exodus 21:8

Who hath betrothed her to himself] The Hebrew Text hath 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifying Not, and so runs thus, Who hath not betroathed her. But the Hebrew Criticks commonly called Masorets, put for it in the magin 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifying to him; so observing a various reading. And indeed they observe divers readings in sundry places of Scripture; but about no one word so many, as about this; as may be seene, Levit. XI. 21. and Ch. XXV. 30. 1 Sam. II. 3. 2 Kings VIII. 10. 1 Chron. XI. 20. Ezra IV. 2. Job XIII. 15. Psal. C. 3. Esay IX. 3. and XLIX. 5. and LXIII. 9. And in many of these, both senses come to one; reading the Negative by way of interrogation. See the Annotations on Job 13. 15.

Exodus 21:14

From mine Altar] The Tabernacle, and Temple, and Altars there, may seeme to pretend to some such Priviledge, as the Cities of Refuge had, Exod. XXI. 14. 1 King. 1. 50, 51. and Ch. 11. 28.