Exodus 21:7-11 Daughters, Servitude and Marriage!

7And if a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the menservants do. 8If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself, he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her. 9And if he chooses her for his son, he must deal with her as with a daughter. 10If he takes another wife, he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of his first wife. 11If, however, he does not provide her these three things, she is free to go without monetary payment.

“if a man sells his daughter as a servant,”....

“Refers to a girl who is sold by her father, not for slavery, but for marriage.” (Kaiser)

“Probably the origin of the custom was the same in either case: to avoid paying a higher bride-price at a later age, and to rear the future daughter-in-law within the family, ensuring that she ‘fitted in’. Such an attitude to slaves abolishes slavery, except in name.” (Cole)

“he must allow her to be redeemed”....

“Should the terms of marriage not be fulfilled, it is to be considered a breach of contract, and the purchaser must allow the girl to be redeemed.” (Kaiser)

“He has no right to sell her to foreigners”.....

“Even if he has wearied of her, he cannot sell her to another master: that would be a breach of marriage obligation to her.” (Cole)

“he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of his first wife”....

“The word translated food should perhaps be rendered ‘meat’: it means, say the commentators, the wife’s fair share of luxuries, not mere subsistence allowance, which any slave would get.” (Cole)

“however, he does not provide her these three things, she is free to go”....

“The right of a parent to sell his daughter was carefully guarded against abuse.” (Thomas)

We have to remind ourselves this was their custom of daughters, servitude and marriage.

“The girl in this circumstance – out of her birth home, released by her natural parents – had no natural protector in that society. God directed the judges of Israel to be her protector.” (Guzik)

Fast forward to today, how has society changed in regards to marriage?

Blessings, David