Exodus 21:20-21

[futuresoldier]

'If a slave owner takes a stick and beats his slave, whether male or female, and the slave dies on the spot, the slave owner is to be punished. But, if the slave does not die for a day or two, the master is not to be punished. The loss of his property is punishment enough.'

I can't understand this. Any help?

[Debbie]

KJV says "he shall not be punished; for he is his money."
I think it's saying that the slave owner is out of 2 days of slave labor/his own money, so the slave owner punished himself by beating his slave to the point where he couldnt work for 2 days anyway.
This old law was abolished by Christ's death & ressurection & there is "no longer slave nor free, male nor female" . We are all the body of Christ now.