[Avodah] Being an Eved to an Eved

[Danny Schoemann]

> Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai said: he went and stole, 
> so the ear which heard 'Don't steal' should be pierced. 
> And if he [was poor and] sold himself, acquiring another 
> master for himself, then the ear which heard 'bnei yisrael 
> are *My* avadim' should be pierced."

> My question is this: In the case where he voluntarily chose
> to sell himself, why is the ear-piercing prescribed only at the
> end of the six years, and even then only when he prefers to 
> stay on longer? Shouldn't Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai's logic 
> apply at the very beginning as well?

For the first six years he was paid - which was the reason he was sold. So
at some level he's simply a 24/7 employee, albeit with special privileges.

When he decided to stay on, it's as an unpaid 24/7 worker - that's already
100% slavery.

- Danny