If These Three Are Withheld She Goes Free Without Money

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 21:11

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And if he does not do these three for her" (Exodus 21:11): Rabbi Eliezer says: this is food, clothing, and conjugal rights. Rabbi Akiva said to him: what need have I of this? Is it not already said, "her food, her clothing, and her conjugal rights he shall not diminish"? Then what does "these three" teach? Say from now on: he did not designate her neither he nor his son and he did not redeem her. "Then she shall go out free" (Exodus 21:11): what need have I of this? If it is to teach that she goes out at the end of six years, is it not already said (Deuteronomy 15:12), "if your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years"? Then what does "she shall go out free" teach? Scripture granted her an additional release. "And she shall go out free" these are the days of full maturity [bagrut]; "without money" these are the days of young womanhood [na'arut]. From here they said: the Hebrew maidservant has an advantage over the Hebrew slave, in that she goes out by [the appearance of] signs.

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