Derasha 3 on Behar 25:39

Parashas Behar · Aliyah 6 · Passuk 25:39

The Complete Passuk

וְכִֽי־יָמ֥וּךְ אָחִ֛יךָ עִמָּ֖ךְ וְנִמְכַּר־לָ֑ךְ לֹא־תַעֲבֹ֥ד בּ֖וֹ עֲבֹ֥דַת עָֽבֶד׃

Torah Temimah cites Kiddushin 15a.

Core Text — Kiddushin 15a

לֹא תַעֲבֹד בּוֹ עֲבֹדַת עָבֶד. אֶלָּא בְּעֲבֹדַת אָרֶץ, כְּגוֹן חָרִישָׁה וּקְצִירָה.

English: “You shall not work him with the work of a slave.” Rather with the work of the land, such as plowing and harvesting.

Classical derasha (Bavli Kiddushin).

Permitted labor for an eved ivri is agricultural or other dignified work, not the demeaning personal service of a permanent slave.