Pisqa’ 121³⁵³

1. “And should he say to you: I will not go free from you” (Dt. 15:16). Is it possible to say that [if the Hebrew slave refused his freedom] once, he undergoes the piercing of his ear? The Teaching states: “Now, if the slave forcefully declares” (Ex. 21:5)— he cannot be permanently enslaved until he declares and repeats **[his insistence upon remaining enslaved].**³⁵⁴ 2.

footnotes: ³⁵³ H:166; JN1: 301-302. ³⁵⁴ Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin,

If he declared [his desire to remain enslaved] during the six years [of his term of service], but did not declare it at the end of the six years when he is entitled to go free— indeed, he is not to be pierced, for it says: “I will not be set free” (Ex. 21:5)— he cannot be permanently enslaved unless he insists upon it at the time of liberation, [after six complete years]. If he declared at the end of the six years, but he hadn’t declared during the six years— indeed, he is not to be pierced, for it is said: “If the slave forcefully declares” (Dt. 21:5)— he cannot be permanently enslaved unless he declares his insistence while time remains in the term of his servitude.

2. “For he loves you” (Dt. 15:16)— inferring from what is stated elsewhere: “I love my master” (Ex. 21:5)— {wouldn’t I already know that he loves his master? In fact,}³⁵⁵ 121, n.4. on the basis of both verses, you can claim: if he loved his master, but his master doesn’t love him; or if he is beloved to his master, but he doesn’t love his master— indeed, he is not to be pierced! As it is said: “For he loves you” (Dt. 15:16)— [the essential element is the slave’s love for the master]. If the Hebrew slave has a wife and children, yet his master has no wife or children, he is not to be pierced,

“For he loves you and your household” (Dt. 15:16)— **[implying that the master has a family of his own].**³⁵⁶ 2.

footnotes: ³⁵⁵ F:179, ls. 13-14 adds this phrase, although it does not appear in any mss or editions except as a marginal addition in mss Berlin . See his register of variants, p. 179, l. 13 and H:440, piska’ ³⁵⁶ // Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin

“Since all is well with him among you” (Dt. 15:16)— thus, if he or his master become ill, indeed, he is not to be pierced.