In Exodus 21 God continues giving the details of the Old Covenant to Israel. This chapter begins the judgments or civil law of the nations.

1. Divisions Of Law
Under the Old Covenant Israel was given three types of law:
A. The moral law or the eternal principles of right and wrong.
B. The ceremonial law which revealed the type of sinfulness of man and the gospel of Christ. This form of law concerned the priesthood and the tabernacle along with the various sacrifices.
C. The judgments which were the civil law of Israel as a nation. We must remember that Israel was a Theocracy. God was king and true religious observance of His laws was part of citizenship.

Men have attempted to follow this pattern in New Testament times by joining church and state. This completely corrupts the nature and work of the church and always leads to religious persecution. Baptists have always upheld the separation of church and state as necessary to the true purpose of the church. Notice now that Israel's judgments were based on the Ten Commandments. In this way the moral law was codified for civil use.

While these judgments are not directly binding on nations today they do give us an example of how God's moral law should be reflected in civil laws. Nations should reveal God's love and justice in their legal codes while refusing to bind men's consciences in strictly religious matters.

Before moving on to the exposition of Israel's law we should note that some are shocked at the mention of slavery and other offensive customs. Remember that God's law did not institute these things. They were universal customs. The judgments of Israel did protect the weak and as God's law gained influence the offending customs ceased from society.

2. Israel's Judgments
A. Hebrew Servants - Verses 1-6.
Perhaps these precepts could be viewed as Israel's law of bankruptcy. A man who could not pay his bills or support himself could be sold into bondage. This was universal in the ancient world. The difference in Israel’s law was the mercy involved.
(1) The servitude could only last for six years.
(2) A man who had a family before his time of servitude could not have it taken from him.
(3) The man who took a wife while in servitude was given an option whereby the family could be kept intact.
(4) The servant when released was to be treated in a brotherly fashion (Deuteronomy 15:12-18). He was not to be hated or sent away empty handed. (In my opinion these laws are more just and much healthier for society than our modern laws concerning bankruptcy or our system of welfare.)

B. Christ The Servant - Verses 4-6.
Bible students have always seen in this ancient law a picture of Christ as the willing servant. He willingly became a servant of the Father and had His ear "digged" or pierced through (Psalm 40:6). As a servant Christ was under the law that He might keep it in our place and redeem up from bondage (Galatians 4:4-5, Isaiah 42:1, Isaiah 52:13).

C. Maidservants - Verses 7-11.
Ancient law protected the powerful and the rich. God's law protected all. Even the poor, the weak, or the young girl had rights. It is hard for us to understand how unique this was in ancient cultures where women were mere possessions and the poor had no rights.
The man who paid a dowry for a women and then decided no to marry her could not sell her into Gentile hands. Her family had the right of returning the dowry and thus redeeming her back. A woman who was married to a man who later took another wife was also protected. She could not be mistreated or neglected. If so she was free without a return of the dowry. Even the weakest slave girl was to be treated as a daughter.

D. Murder - Verse 12
Notice that God's law distinguished between murder, manslaughter, and self-defense. A murderer was to forfeit his life (Numbers 35:31).

E. Manslaughter - Verses 13-14
Here is laid the foundation for the concept of the future cities of refuge. A man who committed manslaughter could flee to one of these and be safe from the avenger (Numbers 35). Note how God's sovereignty in providence is recognized even in "accidental" death (verse 13).

F. Smiting Parents - Verse 15
Parents have authority from God and make up the most basic form of government. To smite a parent is to strike out against God. The person who does this shows that they are devoid of any respect or honor for authority. It was a capital crime.

G. Kidnapping - Verse 16

H. Cursing Parents - Verse 17
These laws remind us the importance of the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12).

I. Injurious Behavior - Verses 18-19
Those who harmed others were responsible for all medical bills and loss of time.

J. Injury Of A Servant - Verses 20-21
The murder of a servant was no crime in most ancient societies. In Israel a master was held responsible for the murder of a servant. In order for the master to be punished it had to be clear that murder was the intent. A servant might be justly punished and die later of other causes.

K. Accidental Abortion - Verses 22-23
Some have misused these scriptures to prove that abortion is not murder. This is an error. The loss of a child was obviously not the offender's intent. The law required that anyone whose rough behavior caused a miscarriage would be fined. If the mother died it was viewed as an intentional murder.

L. Rigid Justice - Verses 24-25
Men have abused this scripture to justify private vengeance. Christ condemned this (Matthew 5:38-40). What the scripture actually teaches is that the state is to tailor the punishment to the severity of the crime.

M. Protection Of Servants - Verses 26-27
Servants were valuable to their masters. The law of Israel protected them by requiring them to be freed if seriously injured. This would restrain a hot-tempered master.

N. Criminal Neglect - Verses 28-36
Men were to love their neighbor by taking precaution for their safety. Failure to do so brought punishment.

Conclusion
These laws seem strange to our ears. We do not live in an agricultural or simple age. They were, however, a great blessing to Israel. As men turn from God they corrupt their laws as we see in America today.