Deuteronomy 33:15-16

( 16, 17). Of a Runaway Slave. If such escape to theeapparently Israel as a whole (cp. Deuteronomy 5:16), and therefore the slave, though not necessarily a Hebrew slave 1 [145] (Marti), is one who has escaped from a foreign master thou shalt not send him back, he shall dwell with thee, where he chooses and unoppressed. Peculiar to D. That slaves sometimes fled abroad is seen from the flight of Shimei's to Achish of Gath, who gave them back, apparently as a matter of course (1 Kings 2:39). If this was the usual practice D's law marks a humane advance upon it. For slaves who flee from native owners no Hebrew laws are extant. On slavery see further on Deuteronomy 15:12 ff.

[145] Had this been so it would have been stated as in Deuteronomy 15:12.

Ḫammurabi decrees that he who induces a slave to flee or harbours the runaway shall die (§§ 15 f., 19) and that runaways shall be restored (§§ 18, 20), the reward for each being two silver shekels (§ 17). The slaves of Arabs seldom run away. If one is harshly treated and escapes, he is sheltered by another man of the tribe till his owner promises to treat him better (Musil, Ethn. Ber.225).