But suppose the slave loves his wife and children so much that he won't leave without them.
If you give him a wife, and they have children, only the man himself must be set free; his wife and children remain the property of his owner.
Then he must stand beside either the door or the doorpost at the place of worship, while his owner punches a small hole through one of his ears with a sharp metal rod. This makes him a slave for life.
Others have ruled over us besides you, our LORD God, but we obey only you.