He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 17. Servants, or slaves. The Hebrews enjoyed greater liberty than any of the nations in the East, yet they are styled slaves. Calmet. 17:8. They were nearly on the same footing as the ancient Germans. “Each governed in his own place of abode. The Lord requires of them a quantity of corn, cattle, or clothing, and so far the slave obeys;” servus hactenus paret. Tacit. Germ. The Hebrews were also bound to follow the king to battle. The Egyptians, Persians, and so forth were under greater oppression. Herodotus (iii. 31,) informs us, that when Cambyses designed to marry his own sister, his counsellors replied, that they found no express law to this effect; but there was another, “that the king of Persia may do whatever he please.” The highest officers, and even his brothers, were styled, “slaves, Δουλοι, of the great king.” Arist. Mund.