The Lantern

Sifrei Devarim257

Silverstein

(Devarim 23:16) "Do not deliver a servant to his master": From here they ruled: If one sells his servant to an idolator or to one outside of Eretz Yisrael, he goes free.

"who shall escape to you from his master": to include a ger toshav ("a sojourning stranger," a gentile who takes it upon himself not to serve idolatry and to heed the seen Noachide laws)

[If he leaves the gentiles and comes to Eretz Yisrael, do not return him to them.] (Ibid. 17) "With you shall he dwell" — in the city itself.

"in your midst" — and not in an outlying district. "in the place that he chooses" — where he can find sustenance.

"in your gates" — and not in Jerusalem. "in one of your gates" — and not in exile from city to city.

"where it is good for him" — from an inferior location to a superior one.

"you shall not oppress him" — verbal oppression.