If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.
If someone is caught kidnapping any of their fellow Israelites and treats them like property to sell or trade, then that kidnapper must be put to death. You must remove this evil from your community.
God is declaring that kidnapping and human trafficking deserves the death penalty because it's such a serious evil that must be completely removed from society.
📚 Historical Context
This law was given to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, addressing the serious crime of kidnapping fellow Israelites for slavery or profit. In the ancient world, kidnapping people to sell as slaves was unfortunately common, but God's law protected the Israelites from this practice within their own community. This command emphasized the inherent dignity and value of every Israelite as part of God's chosen people.
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