Slaves Chapter 3

כָּל עֶבֶד עִבְרִי הֲרֵי הָאָדוֹן חַיָּב בִּמְזוֹנוֹת אִשְׁתּוֹ הַנְּשׂוּאָה לוֹ וְלֹא אֲרוּסָה וְשׁוֹמֶרֶת יָבָם. וְהוּא שֶׁתִּהְיֶה מֻתֶּרֶת לוֹ. אֲבָל אִם הָיְתָה מֵאִסּוּרֵי לָאוִין אֲפִלּוּ שְׁנִיָּה אֵינוֹ חַיָּב בִּמְזוֹנוֹתֶיהָ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ אִשָּׁה הָרְאוּיָה לַעֲמֹד עִמּוֹ. וְכֵן חַיָּב בִּמְזוֹנוֹת בָּנָיו וּבְנוֹתָיו. בִּמְכָרוּהוּ בֵּית דִּין נֶאֱמַר (שמות כא ג) "אִם בַּעַל אִשָּׁה הוּא וְיָצְאָה אִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ". וְכִי תַּעֲלֶה עַל דַּעְתְּךָ שֶׁכֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּקְנָה זֶה נִשְׁתַּעְבְּדָה אִשְׁתּוֹ. אֲבָל לֹא בָּא לְלַמֵּד אֶלָּא שֶׁהָאָדוֹן חַיָּב בִּמְזוֹנוֹתֶיהָ. וּבְמוֹכֵר עַצְמוֹ נֶאֱמַר (ויקרא כה מא) "וְיָצָא מֵעִמָּךְ הוּא וּבָנָיו עִמּוֹ". וּבְנִמְכָּר לְעַכּוּ"ם נֶאֱמַר (ויקרא כה נד) "וְיָצָא בִּשְׁנַת הַיֹּבֵל הוּא וּבָנָיו עִמּוֹ". אֶחָד אִשָּׁה וּבָנִים שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ בִּשְׁעַת מְכִירָה אוֹ אִשָּׁה וּבָנִים שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ אַחַר מְכִירָתוֹ. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּקָּחֶנָּה מִדַּעַת הָאָדוֹן. אֲבָל אִם לְקָחָהּ שֶׁלֹּא מִדַּעַת רַבּוֹ אֵינוֹ חַיָּב בִּמְזוֹנוֹתֶיהָ:

A master is obligated to provide sustenance for the wife of every Hebrew servant. This applies when their marriage has been consummated as nisuin, but not when she is merely an arusah, or if she is awaiting her yavam. And this applies only when she is permitted to her husband. If, however, she is forbidden to him by a Torah prohibition, or even if she is a sh'niyah, the master is not required to provide her with her sustenance. This is derived from Exodus 21:3: "His wife together with him" - i.e., a woman who is fit to live together with him. Similarly, the master is liable to provide the servant's sons and daughters with their sustenance. These concepts are derived as follows: With regard to the release of a servant sold by the court, it is written ibid.: "If he is married to a woman, his wife will leave together with him." Would you think that because the master purchased the servant, the servant's wife would be placed in servitude? Instead, the verse is stated for the sole purpose of teaching that the master is obligated to provide the servant's wife with her sustenance. With regard to the release of a servant who sells himself, Leviticus 25:41 states: "And he shall depart from you, he and his children with him." And with regard to the release of a servant sold to a gentile, it is written ibid.:54: "And he shall go out in the Jubilee year, he and his children with him." This applies to a wife or children the servant had at the time he was sold, or a wife and children that he acquired after the sale, provided he married with the consent of his master. If, however, the servant married without the consent of his master, the master is not obligated to provide for her sustenance.

אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָאָדוֹן חַיָּב בִּמְזוֹנוֹת אִשְׁתּוֹ וּבָנָיו אֵין לוֹ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם כְּלוּם אֶלָּא הֲרֵי מַעֲשֵׂה הָאִשָּׁה וּמְצִיאָתָהּ לְבַעֲלָהּ. וְכָל שֶׁזּוֹכֶה הַבַּעַל בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ זוֹכֶה זֶה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא עֶבֶד עִבְרִי:

Although a master is obligated to provide for the sustenance of a servant's wife and children, he is not entitled to the proceeds of their work at all. Instead, the proceeds of the work of the servant's wife and any ownerless objects she finds belong to her husband. Whatever rights the husband has in his relationship with his wife, he retains although he is a Hebrew servant.

מִי שֶׁמְּכָרוּהוּ בֵּית דִּין יֵשׁ לְרַבּוֹ לִתֵּן לוֹ שִׁפְחָה כְּנַעֲנִית. בֵּין הָאָדוֹן בֵּין בְּנוֹ שֶׁל אֲדוֹן אִם מֵת אָבִיו הֲרֵי זֶה נוֹתֵן לוֹ שִׁפְחָה. וְכוֹפֵהוּ עַל זֶה כְּדֵי שֶׁיּוֹלִיד מִמֶּנָּה עֲבָדִים. וַהֲרֵי הִיא מֻתֶּרֶת לוֹ כָּל יְמֵי עַבְדוּתוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כא ד) "אִם אֲדֹנָיו יִתֶּן לוֹ אִשָּׁה" וְגוֹ'. וְהַמּוֹכֵר עַצְמוֹ אָסוּר בְּשִׁפְחָה כְּנַעֲנִית כִּשְׁאָר כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל:

When a servant is sold by the court, his master has the option of giving him a Canaanite maid-servant as a wife. This applies to the master who purchased him or the son who becomes his master if the master dies. He may give him a Canaanite maid-servant as a wife and compel him to engage in relations with her so that she gives birth to slaves that he conceived. She is permitted to him throughout the period of his servitude, as implied by Exodus 21:4: "If his master will give him a wife." A person who sells himself as a servant is forbidden to marry a Canaanite slave, as are all other Jews.

אֵין עֶבֶד עִבְרִי מֻתָּר בְּשִׁפְחָה כְּנַעֲנִית עַד שֶׁתִּהְיֶה לוֹ אִשָּׁה יִשְׂרְאֵלִית וּבָנִים. אֲבָל אִם אֵין לוֹ אִשָּׁה וּבָנִים אֵין רַבּוֹ מוֹסֵר לוֹ שִׁפְחָה כְּנַעֲנִית. וְדָבָר זֶה קַבָּלָה הוּא אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה הַנִּמְכָּר כֹּהֵן הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר בְּשִׁפְחָה כְּנַעֲנִית כָּל יְמֵי עַבְדוּתוֹ:

A Hebrew servant is not permitted to marry a Canaanite maid-servant unless he already has a Jewish wife and children. If, however, he does not have a Jewish wife and children, his master may not give him a Canaanite maid-servant against his will. This concept is part of the Oral Tradition. Even if the man sold as a servant is a priest, he is permitted to marry a Canaanite maid-servant throughout the duration of his servitude.

אִם הָיוּ לוֹ אִשָּׁה וּבָנִים אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמּוֹסֵר לוֹ רַבּוֹ שִׁפְחָה כְּנַעֲנִית אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהַפְרִישׁוֹ מֵאִשְׁתּוֹ וּבָנָיו שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כא ג) "אִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ". וְאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִתֵּן לוֹ שְׁתֵּי שְׁפָחוֹת. וְלֹא לִתֵּן שִׁפְחָה אַחַת לִשְׁנֵי עֲבָדָיו הָעִבְרִים כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁנּוֹתֵן לַכְּנַעֲנִיִּים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כא ד) "יִתֶּן לוֹ אִשָּׁה". נִרְצָע שֶׁמָּסַר לוֹ רַבּוֹ שִׁפְחָה כְּנַעֲנִית וְהִגִּיעַ יוֹבֵל וְהָיָה רַבּוֹ מְסָרֵב בּוֹ לָצֵאת וְאֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה לָצֵאת וְחָבַל בּוֹ פָּטוּר שֶׁהֲרֵי נֶאֱסַר בְּשִׁפְחָה:

If a Hebrew servant has a wife and children, although his master may give him a Canaanite maid-servant as a wife, he may not separate the Hebrew servant from his Jewish wife and children. This is implied by the phrase "his wife together with him." He may not give him two maid-servants, nor may he give one maid-servant to two Hebrew servants, as he is allowed to do with regard to his Canaanite slaves, as implied by the phrase: "Give him a wife." When a servant whose master gave him a Canaanite maid-servant and whose ear was pierced does not desire to leave his master's domain when the Jubilee year arrives, although his master urges him to depart, if his master injures him his master is not liable. He is permitted to strike him, because at that time, the servant becomes prohibited to have relations with a maid- servant.

הַמּוֹכֵר עַצְמוֹ אֵינוֹ נִרְצָע. אֲבָל מְכָרוּהוּ בֵּית דִּין וְעָבַד שֵׁשׁ וְלֹא רָצָה לָצֵאת הֲרֵי זֶה נִרְצָע וְעוֹבֵד עַד שְׁנַת הַיּוֹבֵל אוֹ עַד שֶׁיָּמוּת הָאָדוֹן:

A person who sells himself may not prolong his servitude by having his ear pierced. If, however, a servant was sold by the court, worked for six years and does not desire to receive his freedom, he may have his ear pierced. In this instance, he must work until the Jubilee year, or until his master dies.

אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִנִּיחַ בֵּן אֵין הַנִּרְצָע עוֹבֵד אֶת הַבֵּן מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ (שמות כא ו) "וַעֲבָדוֹ", לוֹ וְלֹא לִבְנוֹ. (שמות כא ו) "לְעוֹלָם", לְעוֹלָמוֹ שֶׁל יוֹבֵל. נִמְצֵאתָ לָמֵד שֶׁהַנִּרְצָע אֵינוֹ קוֹנֶה אֶת עַצְמוֹ אֶלָּא בַּיּוֹבֵל וּבְמִיתַת הָאָדוֹן:

Even though the master leaves a son, the servant whose ear was pierced does not serve the son. This is derived from the exegesis of Exodus 21:6: "And he shall serve him forever." This is interpreted to mean: "And he shall serve him," and not his son; "forever," until the Jubilee year. We thus learn that a servant whose ear was pierced gains his freedom only at the Jubilee or with the death of his master.

עֶבֶד עִבְרִי כֹּהֵן אֵינוֹ נִרְצָע מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה בַּעַל מוּם וַהֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר (ויקרא כה מא) "וְשָׁב אֶל מִשְׁפַּחְתּוֹ" לַחֲזָקָה שֶׁהָיָה בָּהּ. וְאֵינוֹ שָׁב לַשְּׂרָרָה שֶׁהָיָה בָּהּ:

A Hebrew servant who is a priest may not have his ear pierced, because this gives him a physical blemish that disqualifies him from service in the Temple, and Leviticus 25:41 states: "And he shall return to his family," to the status that he enjoyed previously. He does not, however, return to the position of authority that he previously held.

כֵּיצַד רוֹצְעִין. מְבִיאוֹ לְבֵית דִּין שֶׁל שְׁלֹשָׁה וְאוֹמֵר דְּבָרָיו לִפְנֵיהֶם וּמַגִּישׁוֹ לְסוֹף שֵׁשׁ אֶל הַדֶּלֶת אוֹ אֶל הַמְּזוּזָה כְּשֶׁהֵן עוֹמְדִין בְּבִנְיָן. בֵּין דֶּלֶת וּמְזוּזָה שֶׁל אָדוֹן בֵּין שֶׁל כָּל אָדָם. וְנוֹקֵב אֶת אָזְנוֹ הַיְמָנִית בְּגוּפָהּ שֶׁל אֹזֶן בְּמַרְצֵעַ שֶׁל מַתֶּכֶת עַד שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ לַדֶּלֶת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טו יז) "וְנָתַתָּ בְאָזְנוֹ וּבַדֶּלֶת". וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר (שמות כא ו) "מְזוּזָה" אֶלָּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עוֹמֵד בֵּין אֵצֶל דֶּלֶת בֵּין אֵצֶל מְזוּזָה. וּמָה מְזוּזָה כְּשֶׁהִיא עוֹמֶדֶת אַף דֶּלֶת כְּשֶׁהִיא עוֹמֶדֶת. אֲבָל הָרְצִיעָה בַּדֶּלֶת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין שָׁם מְזוּזָה. הָאָדוֹן הוּא שֶׁרוֹצֵעַ בְּעַצְמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כא ו) "וְרָצַע אֲדֹנָיו" לֹא בְּנוֹ וְלֹא שְׁלוּחוֹ וְלֹא שְׁלִיחַ בֵּית דִּין. וְאֵין רוֹצְעִין שְׁנֵי עֲבָדִים כְּאֶחָד שֶׁאֵין עוֹשִׂין מִצְוֹת חֲבִילוֹת חֲבִילוֹת:

How is the servant's ear pierced? His master brings him to a court of three judges and the servant makes his statements in their presence. At the conclusion of the six-year period, he brings him to the door or to the doorpost as they are standing affixed in the building. It could be done near the door or the doorpost of the master, or one belonging to any other person. He should pierce his right ear, in the middle lobe of the ear, with a metal awl until it reaches the door, as Deuteronomy 15:17 states: "And you shall put it through his ear at the door." The doorpost is mentioned only to indicate that the servant may stand next to either the door or the doorpost. Just as the doorpost must be standing, so too, the door must be standing. But the piercing is done to the door. The master himself pierces the servant's ear, as Exodus 21:6 states: "His master shall pierce" i.e., he, and not his son, his agent or an agent of the court. The ears of two servants should not be pierced at the same time, for mitzvot should not be performed in bundles.

(שמות כא ה) "וְאִם אָמֹר יֹאמַר הָעֶבֶד" עַד שֶׁיֹּאמַר וְיִשְׁנֶה. הָעֶבֶד עַד שֶׁיֹּאמַר כְּשֶׁהוּא עֶבֶד אֲבָל אִם אָמַר אַחַר שֵׁשׁ אֵינוֹ נִרְצָע עַד שֶׁיֹּאמַר וְיִשְׁנֶה בְּסוֹף שֵׁשׁ בִּתְחִלַּת פְּרוּטָה אַחֲרוֹנָה. כֵּיצַד. כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר מִן הַיּוֹם שְׁוֵה פְּרוּטָה מִדְּמֵי מְכִירָתוֹ אוֹ יֶתֶר מְעַט. אֲבָל אִם נִשְׁאַר פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁוֵה פְּרוּטָה הֲרֵי זֶה כְּאוֹמֵר אַחַר שֵׁשׁ:

More particulars can be derived from the exegesis of Exodus 25:5: "If the servant shall certainly say" - i.e., he must repeat his statement. "The servant" - he must make this statement as a servant - i.e., he must make and repeat his statement at the conclusion of the six years of servitude, at the beginning of the last p'rutah's worth of his servitude. What is implied? That there remain from the final day at least a p'rutah's worth or slightly more of the servant's time. If, however, there remained less than a p'rutah's worth of time, it is as if he made the statements after the six years were concluded.

הָיְתָה לָעֶבֶד שִׁפְחָה כְּנַעֲנִית וְלוֹ מִמֶּנָּה בָּנִים וּלְרַבּוֹ אֵין אִשָּׁה וּבָנִים אֵינוֹ נִרְצָע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טו טז) "כִּי אֲהֵבְךָ וְאֶת בֵּיתֶךָ". לְרַבּוֹ אִשָּׁה וּבָנִים וְלוֹ אֵין אִשָּׁה וּבָנִים אֵינוֹ נִרְצָע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כא ה) "אָהַבְתִּי אֶת אֲדֹנִי אֶת אִשְׁתִּי וְאֶת בָּנָי". הוּא אוֹהֵב אֶת רַבּוֹ וְרַבּוֹ אֵינוֹ אוֹהֲבוֹ אֵינוֹ נִרְצָע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כִּי טוֹב לוֹ עִמָּךְ. רַבּוֹ אוֹהֲבוֹ וְהוּא אֵינוֹ אוֹהֵב אֶת רַבּוֹ אֵינוֹ נִרְצָע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כִּי אֲהֵבְךָ. הוּא חוֹלֶה וְרַבּוֹ אֵינוֹ חוֹלֶה אֵינוֹ נִרְצָע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כִּי טוֹב לוֹ עִמָּךְ. רַבּוֹ חוֹלֶה וְהוּא אֵינוֹ חוֹלֶה אוֹ שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם חוֹלִים אֵינוֹ נִרְצָע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טו טז) "כִּי טוֹב לוֹ עִמָּךְ" עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם בְּטוֹבָה:

If the servant has a Canaanite maid-servant as a wife and children from her, and his master does not have a wife and children, his ear should not be pierced, as implied by Deuteronomy 15:16: "Because he loves you and your household." If the master has a wife and children, and the servant does not have a wife and children, his ear should not be pierced, as implied by Exodus 21:5: "I love my master, my wife and my children." If the servant loves his master, but his master does not love him, his ear should not be pierced, as implied by Deuteronomy, op. cit.: "It is good for him with you." If the master loves the servant, but the servant does not love his master, his ear should not be pierced, as implied by Deuteronomy, op. cit.: "He loves you." If the servant is sick, but his master is not sick, his ear should not be pierced, as implied by: "It is good for him with you." If the master is sick, but the servant is not sick, or they are both sick, his ear should not be pierced, as implied by: "It is good for him with you" - i.e., they both must share in goodness.

מַה בֵּין מוֹכֵר עַצְמוֹ לִמְכָרוּהוּ בֵּית דִּין. מוֹכֵר עַצְמוֹ אֵינוֹ נִרְצָע וּמְכָרוּהוּ בֵּית דִּין נִרְצָע. מוֹכֵר עַצְמוֹ אָסוּר בְּשִׁפְחָה כְּנַעֲנִית וּמְכָרוּהוּ בֵּית דִּין רַבּוֹ מוֹסֵר לוֹ שִׁפְחָה כְּנַעֲנִית. מוֹכֵר עַצְמוֹ נִמְכָּר לְעַכּוּ"ם וּמְכָרוּהוּ בֵּית דִּין אֵינוֹ נִמְכָּר אֶלָּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טו יב) "כִּי יִמָּכֵר לְךָ אָחִיךָ" אֵין בֵּית דִּין מוֹכְרִין אוֹתוֹ אֶלָּא לְךָ. מוֹכֵר עַצְמוֹ נִמְכָּר לְשֵׁשׁ וְיֶתֶר עַל שֵׁשׁ מְכָרוּהוּ בֵּית דִּין אֵינוֹ נִמְכָּר אֶלָּא לְשֵׁשׁ. מוֹכֵר עַצְמוֹ אֵין מַעֲנִיקִין לוֹ מְכָרוּהוּ בֵּית דִּין מַעֲנִיקִין לוֹ:

What are the differences between a servant who sells himself and a servant sold by the court? A servant who sells himself does not have his ear pierced, while a servant sold by the court has his ear pierced. A servant who sells himself is forbidden to marry a Canaanite maid-servant, while the master of a servant sold by the court may compel the servant to marry a Canaanite maid-servant. A servant who sells himself may be sold to a gentile, while a servant sold by the court may be sold only to a Jew, as Deuteronomy 15:12 states: "When your brother is sold to you" - i.e., the court sells him only to "you." A servant who sells himself may be sold for six years or for more than six years, while a servant sold by the court may be sold for only six years. A servant who sells himself does not receive a severance gift, while a servant sold by the court does receive a severance gift.

מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ שֶׁאֵין הָאִשָּׁה נִרְצַעַת וְכֵן יֵרָאֶה מֵעִנְיַן הַכָּתוּב שֶׁהֲרֵי אוֹמֵר בְּנִרְצָע (שמות כא ה) "אָהַבְתִּי אֶת אֲדֹנִי אֶת אִשְׁתִּי וְאֶת בָּנָי". וּמַהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טו יז) "וְאַף לַאֲמָתְךָ תַּעֲשֶׂה כֵּן". לְהַעֲנִיק. שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁמִּצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לְהַעֲנִיק עֶבֶד עִבְרִי כָּךְ מַעֲנִיק אָמָה הָעִבְרִיָּה:

According to the Oral Tradition, we learned that a Hebrew maid-servant may not have her servitude prolonged by having her ear pierced. This appears to be reflected from the relevant verses. For with regard to the piercing of a servant's ear, Exodus 21:5 states: "I love my master, my wife and my children." What then is implied by Deuteronomy 15:17: "Even to your maid-servant do this"? It teaches that just as it is a mitzvah to give a severance gift to a Hebrew servant, so too, it is a mitzvah to give a Hebrew maid-servant a severance gift.

כָּל הַמְשַׁלֵּחַ עַבְדּוֹ וַאֲמָתוֹ רֵיקָם עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טו יג) "לֹא תְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ רֵיקָם" וַהֲרֵי הַכָּתוּב נִתְּקוֹ לַעֲשֵׂה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טו יד) "הַעֲנֵיק תַּעֲנִיק לוֹ". אֶחָד הַיּוֹצֵא בְּסוֹף שֵׁשׁ אוֹ שֶׁיָּצָא בְּיוֹבֵל אוֹ בְּמִיתַת הָאָדוֹן וְכֵן הָאָמָה הָעִבְרִיָּה שֶׁיָּצָאת בְּאֶחָד מִכָּל אֵלּוּ אוֹ בְּסִימָנִין הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מַעֲנִיקִין לָהֶם. אֲבָל הַיּוֹצֵא בְּגִרְעוֹן כֶּסֶף אֵין מַעֲנִיקִין לָהֶם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טו יג) "וְכִי תְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ חָפְשִׁי מֵעִמָּךְ" וְזֶה לֹא שִׁלְּחוֹ חָפְשִׁי אֶלָּא הָעֶבֶד נָתַן שְׁאָר הַדָּמִים שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר לוֹ לַעֲבֹד בָּהֶן וְאַחַר כָּךְ יָצָא. (דברים טו יד) "הַעֲנֵיק תַּעֲנִיק לוֹ מִצֹּאנְךָ מִגָּרְנְךָ וּמִיִּקְבֶךָ" בְּעִנְיַן צֹאן גֹּרֶן וְיֶקֶב דְּבָרִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם בְּרָכָה מֵחֲמַת עַצְמָן הוּא שֶׁחַיָּב לְהַעֲנִיק לוֹ מֵהֶם אֲבָל הַכְּסָפִים וְהַבְּגָדִים אֵינוֹ חַיָּב לִתֵּן לוֹ מֵהֶם. וְכַמָּה נוֹתֵן לוֹ אֵין פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁוֵה שְׁלֹשִׁים סֶלַע בֵּין מִמִּין אֶחָד בֵּין מִמִּינִין הַרְבֵּה כִּשְׁלֹשִׁים שֶׁל קְנַס הָעֶבֶד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ (שמות כא לב) "יִתֵּן לַאדֹנָיו". בֵּין שֶׁנִּתְבָּרֵךְ הַבַּיִת בִּגְלָלוֹ בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא נִתְבָּרֵךְ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר הַעֲנֵיק תַּעֲנִיק לוֹ מִכָּל מָקוֹם. אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר (דברים טו יד) "אֲשֶׁר בֵּרַכְךָ" הַכּל לְפִי הַבְּרָכָה תֵּן לוֹ:

Whoever sends away his servant or maid-servant empty-handed transgresses a negative commandment, as Deuteronomy 15:13 states: "Do not send him away empty-handed." The verse also made provision for this to be remedied with a positive commandment, as Ibid.:14 states: "You shall certainly give him a severance gift." This applies to a Hebrew servant who is released at the conclusion of his six years of servitude, at the advent of the Jubilee, or at the death of his master. Similarly, a severance gift is given to a Hebrew maid-servant who is released under these circumstances, or because she displays signs of physical maturity. When, however, a servant or a maid-servant purchases his freedom by paying the pro-rated portion of his purchase price, a severance gift need not be given, as implied by Ibid.:13 "When you send him away from you as a free man." A servant who redeems himself is not being sent away free. Instead, he pays the amount of money due for the time he was obligated to work and then departs. Ibid.:14 states: "Give him a generous severance gift from your sheep, your threshing floor and your vat as G-d has blessed you." By mentioning sheep, a threshing floor and a vat, the verse indicates that the servant must be given objects that will naturally increase and generate blessing as a severance gift. He need not, however, be given money or garments. How much should he be given? He should not be given less than 30 selaim worth. This may be from one substance or from many substances. This figure parallels the 30 selaim paid as a fine for killing a servant, which Exodus 21:32 states: "Give to his master." The severance gift must be given whether the master's household was blessed because of the servant's presence or whether it was not blessed, as it is written: "Give him a generous severance gift" - i.e., in all situations. Why then does the verse say: "As G-d has blessed you"? To teach that you should give him according to the measure of blessing you have been granted.

אִם בָּרַח וּפָגַע בּוֹ יוֹבֵל כְּשֶׁהוּא בּוֹרֵחַ וְיָצָא לְחֵרוּת אֵינוֹ חַיָּב לְהַעֲנִיקוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים טו יג) "וְכִי תְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ" וְגוֹ'. עֶנֶק עֶבֶד עִבְרִי לְעַצְמוֹ וְאֵין בַּעַל חוֹב גּוֹבֶה הֵימֶנּוּ. וְעֶנֶק אָמָה הָעִבְרִיָּה וְכֵן מְצִיאָתָהּ לְאָבִיהָ. וְאִם מֵת אָבִיהָ קֹדֶם שֶׁיָּבוֹא לְיָדוֹ הֲרֵי הֵן שֶׁל עַצְמָהּ וְאֵין לְאַחֶיהָ בָּהֶם כְּלוּם שֶׁאֵין אָדָם מוֹרִישׁ זְכוּת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ בְּבִתּוֹ לִבְנוֹ:

If the servant fled and the Jubilee fell and thus he attains his freedom, his master is not obligated to grant him a severance gift, as implied by the term "When you send him away." The severance gift granted a Hebrew servant is his own; a creditor may not expropriate it. The severance gift granted a Hebrew maid-servant and any ownerless object she finds belong to her father. If her father dies before it reaches his possession, it belongs to her. He brothers have no right to it. For a person cannot transfer to his son as an inheritance a right that he possesses with regard to his daughter.