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Exodus 21-23 forms what is known as the Book of the Covenant. This\xa0continues after the Ten Commandments with a discussion of the laws\xa0regarding slavery, as the Hebrews were just recently delivered from\xa0slavery. Slavery here should not be confused with the racial slavery\xa0that was common in Europe later. The laws on slavery describe the\xa0practice of this institution as well as the ways in which a slave may\xa0be freed.

Those who have committed violent acts may flee to a sanctuary city,\xa0but if the act is premeditated, the person will be put to death, even\xa0if that person clings to the altar of God.

The law delivered at Sinai also limits the amount of punishment to the\xa0extent of the injury, "life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth,"\xa0known as the lex talionis.