Anti-swearing law

[A. Maberry]

Very reative indeed. I don't think the lot of any of them was particularly
good, I was refering to the fact that some slaves were bound by law to be
released after a fixed period of time and others continued to serve
indefinitely.


On Wed, 23 Feb 2000, James E. Clapp wrote:

> A. Maberry wrote:
> >
> > Some classes of slaves certainly had more rights than others, and none
> > were supposed to be ill-treated.
>
> Of course, ill-treated is a relative term.  As quoted and explained at
> http://religioustolerance.org/sla_bibl.htm (where much more on all of
> this can be found),
>
> "The owner would have to avoid beating the slave to death.  But it was
> acceptable to beat a slave so that he/she was mortally injured and died
> a day or so later:
>
>       Exodus 21:20-21 'And if a man smite his servant, or his maid,
>       with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely
>       punished.  Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he
>       shall not be punished: for he is his money [property].'"
>
> I hope the people who want to put up the Ten Commandments all over the
> place plan to include this little gloss on the "Thou shalt not
> kill/murder/put anyone to death without cause" commandment.  Though I
> would prefer something more clear to today's audience than this King
> James translation:  "male slave" and "female slave" for servant and
> maid, "linger" for continue, and "property" for money.
>
> James E. Clapp
>