Pisqa’ 123³⁷⁰

1. “You shall not consider it a hardship when you set him free from among you, for he has given you twice the service of a hired hand for six years” (Dt. 15:18). On this basis you teach: A hired hand works by day, **while this one [the slave] works by day and night.**³⁷¹ 1. The parallel in Mechlta makes exactly the opposite point from Sifre: “just as a hired hand works by day but not by night, the Hebrew slave, too, works by day but not by night.” Cf. Hammer:442, pisqa 123, n. 1.

footnotes: ³⁷⁰ H:168; JN1:303-304. ³⁷¹ Cf. Mechilta Ishmael, neziqin,

“And HASHEM your God shall bless you” (Dt. 15:18). Is it possible to say that being idle [you will prosper]? The Teaching states: “In all that you do” (Dt. 15:18)— [that is, your labor causes you to prosper].

“And HASHEM your God shall bless you” (Dt. 15:18)— whenever a verse mentions financial misfortune it writes [also] of blessing. And especially regarding loss of income **[as in the owner’s cost in liberating a slave].**³⁷² par. 1:1.

footnotes: ³⁷² //Sifra, tzav,