Thirty Sacred Shekels When an Ox Kills a Slave

"If the ox gores a male slave or a female slave" (Exodus 21:32). Might one think Scripture speaks of a Hebrew male and female slave? Scripture says "a male slave and a female slave": a male and female slave whose law is the same for both. This excludes the Hebrew male and female slave, whose law is not the same for both. Thus Scripture speaks of Canaanite [slaves]. "Silver." Might one think a dinar? Scripture says "thirty." Might one think thirty dinar? Scripture says "shekels." "Silver." Might one think of any province's coinage? It is said here "shekels," and it is said elsewhere (Leviticus 27:25) "shekels." Just as the shekels stated there are by the sacred shekel, so the shekels stated here are by the sacred shekel. "He shall give to his master": whether the master is a man or a woman. "He shall give to his master": whether the master is a minor or an adult. "He shall give to his master." Might one think both in court and outside of court? Scripture says "he shall give to his master" and "the ox shall be stoned": just as its stoning is in court, so the giving is in court. "And the ox shall be stoned." Why do I need this? Has it not already been said (Exodus 21:28), "the ox shall surely be stoned"? What does "the ox shall be stoned" come to teach? Since it says "if the ox gores a slave," one might think that once it gored, even if it did not kill, it is liable. Scripture says "the ox shall be stoned," "the ox shall be stoned," for a verbal analogy: just as the "ox shall be stoned" stated elsewhere refers to when it killed, so the "ox shall be stoned" stated here refers to when it killed; and just as there it is the forewarned and not the innocent, so here the forewarned and not the innocent. Another interpretation: because the slave was included in the general rule and then singled out to be judged anew, Scripture returns it to its general category.