Nature of the Bondage/2

From AlHaTorah.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Nature of the Bondage

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Slaves to the State

Slaves to the Sate and to Individuals

Not only were the Israelites conscripted to work for Paroh, but in addition any Egyptian who so desired was free to enslave an Israelite to work for them personally.

וַיַּעֲבִדוּ מִצְרַיִם אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּפָרֶךְ – According to these sources the word "מִצְרַיִם" refers to individual Egyptians, and this verse represents a worsening of the oppression as lay Egyptians were given permission to take Israelites as their personal slaves.
וּבְכׇל עֲבֹדָה בַּשָּׂדֶה