Commentaire sur L’Exode 21:5

את אשתי MY WIFE — the Canaanitish handmaid mentioned above.

ואם אמר יאמר העבד, “if the servant shall say.” In Kidushin 22 the sages use the repetition of the word אמר as proof that unless the servant expresses this wish twice the employer is not entitled to pierce his ear to extend his period of service in his employ. The word העבד [which does not appear necessary in our context as the subject did not change. Ed.] means that he must express this desire before his period of service expired, i.e. while he was still an עבד (ibid.)

The handmaid. [Rashi knows that] אשתי must be referring to the gentile handmaid, since she remains with the master. In this way, the slave’s love of his master, wife and children is equal, in that he does not want to part with them. But this would not apply to a Jewish wife, [as she would go out with the slave].