The Israelites had lately been servants themselves, and now that they were to have servants under them, they were to beware of indulging the spirit of cruelty and exaction from which they had suffered under their Egyptian taskmasters. The memory of their own bitter servitude should enable them to put themselves in the servant's place, leading them to be kind and compassionate, to deal with others as they would wish to be dealt with.

Israelitterne havde selv for nylig været trælle, og nu, da de skulle have trælle under sig, skulle de vogte sig for at stille lige så store krav som deres ægyptiske fogeder og for at vise den samme grusomhed, som de selv havde lidt under fra disses side. Efter deres egen grusomme trældom skulle det ikke være svært for dem at sætte sig i trællenes sted, være venlige og medlidende og behandle andre, som de selv ønskede at blive behandlet.