אִם־אֶמְאַ֗ס מִשְׁפַּ֣ט עַ֭בְדִּי וַאֲמָתִ֑י בְּ֝רִבָ֗ם עִמָּדִֽי׃
Kung hinamak ko ang usapin ng aking aliping lalaki o ng aking aliping babae nang sila ay makipagtalo sa akin —
Bereshit Rabbah
Rabbi Isi began: “If I reject justice for my servant and my maidservant when they quarrel with me, what would I do when God arises, and when He makes His reckoning; what would I answer Him?” (Job 31:13–14). Rabbi Yosei’s wife was once quarreling with his maidservant.3In manuscripts: With her maidservant. He contradicted her [his wife] in her presence. She said to him: ‘Why are you contradicting me in front of my maidservant?’ He said to her: ‘Did Job not say this: “If I reject justice for my servant [and my maidservant…]”?’
Another interpretation, “If I reject justice [mishpat]…” – this refers to Abraham: “Abraham took Ishmael his son [and all those born in his house…and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin]” (Genesis 17:23).4Mishpat can also mean law. Abraham did not withhold the fulfillment of the law of circumcision from Yishmael, who was considered Abraham’s servant. He said: ‘Had I not done so, on what basis would the Holy One blessed be He have appeared to me?’ “The Lord appeared to him in the plains of Mamre, and he was sitting.”
Another interpretation, “If I reject justice [mishpat]…” – this refers to Abraham: “Abraham took Ishmael his son [and all those born in his house…and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin]” (Genesis 17:23).4Mishpat can also mean law. Abraham did not withhold the fulfillment of the law of circumcision from Yishmael, who was considered Abraham’s servant. He said: ‘Had I not done so, on what basis would the Holy One blessed be He have appeared to me?’ “The Lord appeared to him in the plains of Mamre, and he was sitting.”