John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 23:15

"Thou shalt not deliver unto his master a servant that is escaped from his master unto thee:" — Deuteronomy 23:15 (ASV)

Although this Law tends toward humanity and kindness, it still does not appear to be entirely just. Since many masters oppressed their slaves with tyrannical arrogance, their wickedness made it necessary to provide some relief for these poor individuals. Thus, slaves were permitted to take refuge in temples, and in Rome at the statues of the Caesars, so that if they proved they had been treated with injustice and inhumanity, they might, once their case was proven, be transferred by sale to merciful masters. This, indeed, was tolerable. However, the refuge granted here to slaves deprives their masters of their just right, since, without their case being heard, liberty is given to them to reside in the land of Canaan; thus, too, the law of nations is violated, as the land is opened to every fugitive.

Besides, since runaway slaves are generally wicked and criminal, whatever place may be their asylum will be filled with many sources of infection.

I do not know whether there is sufficient basis for the opinion of some who think that the slaves were exempted by privilege from their former servitude,⁴⁹ so that they might give themselves up to God’s service, and that in this way true religion might be spread. It certainly does not seem consistent that filth and refuse of every kind should be received into the Church, because, in the end, it would have been filled with all kinds of corruptions. Besides, it was by no means proper that whatever crime had been committed elsewhere should be sheltered under God’s name. For, suppose a thief, an adulterer, or a murderer should leave his master and seek asylum in the Holy Land; what else would receiving and protecting such guests have been but to overthrow law and justice, and to set up a state of foul barbarism?

I think, therefore, that more is to be understood than the words express; namely, that if it were found that the slaves had not fled as a result of their own wrongdoing, but because of the excessive cruelty of their masters, the people should not drive them away, which would have been equivalent to handing them over to be slaughtered. Indeed, it may be inferred that legal proceedings were to be initiated, because a choice is given as to the city in which they prefer to live.

Religion, indeed, was of some benefit to them, because those who sought a place and home in the land of Canaan were required to dedicate themselves to God and to be initiated into His worship. Still, God would never have allowed His name to be profaned by receiving wicked persons without discrimination. Therefore, as I briefly stated before, God instills humanity in His people, lest, by extraditing fugitive slaves, they should become complicit in the cruelty of others, because their masters would have been their executioners. And, since He forbids the people from mistreating them, He implies by these words that He only provides for the safety of these wretched individuals to the extent that He allows them to defend their innocence in a court of justice. For this reason, I have seen fit to place this law among the Supplements of the Sixth Commandment.

⁴⁹ “The Chaldee addeth, a servant of the peoples, , i..e., of the Gentiles, who for the religion of God cometh from his master to the Church of Israel. ., of the Gentiles, who for the religion of God cometh from his master to the Church of Israel. This servant that fleeth to the land (of Israel) (of Israel) he is a righteous stranger, (that is, a proselyte come unto the faith and covenant of God,) saith Maimony.” — Ainsworth , (that is, a proselyte come unto the faith and covenant of God,) saith Maimony.” — Ainsworth in loco..