4. The rights and privileges guaranteed by law to all servants. (1.) They were admitted into covenant with God. Deut. xxix. 10-13.

(2.) They were invited guests at all the national and family festivals of the household in which they resided. Exodus xii. 43-44; Deut. xii. 12, 18, and xvi. 10-16.

(3.) They were statedly instructed in morality and religion. Deut. xxxi. 10-13; Joshua viii. 33-35; 2 Chronicles xvii. 8-9.

(4.) They were released from their regular labor nearly ONE HALF OF THE WHOLE TIME.  During which, the law secured to them their entire support; and the same public and family instruction that was provided for the other members of the Hebrew community.

(a.) The Law secured to them the whole of every seventh year; Lev. xxv. 3-6; thus giving to those servants that remained such during the entire period between the jubilees, eight whole years (including the Jubilee year) of unbroken rest.

(b.) Every seventh day.  This in forty-two years, (the eight being subtracted from the fifty) would amount to just six years.

(c.) The three great annual festivals.  The Passover, which commenced on the 15th of the 1st month, and lasted seven days, Deut. xvi. 3, 8.  The Pentecost, or Feast of Weeks, which began on the sixth day of the third month, and lasted seven days.  Lev. xxiii. 15-21.  And the Feast of Tabernacles, which commenced on the 15th of the seventh month, and lasted eight days.  Deut. xvi. 13, 15; Lev. xxiii. 34-39.  As all met in one place, much time would be spent on the journey.  Their cumbered caravans moved slowly.  After their arrival at the place of sacrifice, a day or two at least, would be requisite for divers preparations, before entering upon the celebration of the festival, besides some time at the close of it, in preparations for their return.  If we assign three weeks to each festival—­including the time spent on the journey going and returning, and the delays before and after the celebration, together with the festival week; it will be a small allowance for the cessation of their regular labor.  As there were three festivals in the year, the main body of the servants would be absent from their stated employments at least nine weeks annually, which would amount in forty-two years, subtracting the sabbaths, to six years and eighty-four days.

(e.) The new moons.  The Jewish year had twelve; Josephus tells us that the Jews always kept two days for the new moon.  See Calmet on the Jewish Calender, and Horne’s Introduction; also 1 Sam. xx, 18, 19, 27.  This would amount in forty-two years, to two years, two hundred and eighty days, after the necessary subtractions.

(f.) The feast of trumpets.  On the first day of the seventh month, and of the civil year.  Lev. xxiii. 24, 25.

(g.) The day of atonement.  On the tenth of the seventh month.  Lev. xxiii. 27-32.