Immediately following one of the most monumental and influential events in Jewish history, the receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, the Torah portion of Mishpatim opens with the verse, “And these are the ordinances that you shall place before them.” (Exodus 21:1)
The chapter that follows elaborates on numerous civil laws, including Jewish bondsman, manslaughter, and guardianship over property, etc. Rashi, the classic Biblical commentator provides an interesting explanation on the word “And these are the ordinances…” in the beginning of our portion. He writes, “Where it says, “And these,” [it means that] it is adding to what has been previously stated.” (Tanchuma Mishpatim 3)
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