A common misinterpretation views this verse as endorsing slavery by acknowledging 'masters,' ignoring its context of protecting foreign slaves from brutal pagan servitude rather than regulating Israelite ownership; others wrongly apply it to justify modern illegal immigration or harboring fugitives, overlooking its ancient covenantal framework limited to those escaping to Israel, or misconstrue it as universal abolitionism when it specifically addresses asylum without abolishing all slavery.
Deuteronomy 23:15
King James Version (1769)
15 Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:
Deuteronomy 23:15 commands the Israelites to grant sanctuary to escaped slaves who flee to them, prohibiting their return to oppressive masters, which underscores God's protective compassion for the vulnerable and promotes a society of refuge and justice within Israel, allowing such individuals to dwell freely and choose their residence among the people.