In this, and the two following chapters, are delivered various laws and precepts, partly of a moral, and partly of a religious, but chiefly of a civil nature, respecting the commonwealth of Israel, and its political good.
This chapter treats of servants, and laws relating to them; to menservants, how long they shall serve, and what is to be done to those who are desirous of staying with their masters after their time is up, Ex 21:1, to maidservants, and especially betrothed ones, either to a father or a son, Ex 21:7, likewise it contains laws concerning the slaughter of men, whether with design or unawares, Ex 21:12, and concerning the ill usage of parents, Ex 21:15, and man stealing, Ex 21:16 and of mischief that comes by men's quarrelling and fighting, Ex 21:18 and by smiting a man or maidservant, Ex 21:20, to a woman with child, that is, by means of men's striving and contending with each other, Ex 21:22 and of damages that come by oxen, or to them, Ex 21:28.
Ver. 1. Now these are the judgments,.... The judicial laws respecting the civil state of the people of Israel, so called because they are founded on justice and equity, and are according to the judgment of God, whose judgment is according to truth; and because they are such by which the commonwealth of Israel was to be judged or governed, and were to be the rule of their conduct to one another, and a rule of judgment to their judges in the execution of judgment and justice among them:which thou shall set before them; besides the ten commands before delivered.