Both the parashah and the haftarah address the law requiring the release of Hebrew slaves.

Nefretiri learns from the servant Memnet that Moses is the son of Hebrew slaves.

The Egyptians had Hebrew slaves as well as others.

Joshua is a Hebrew slave and a stonecutter.

Even a Hebrew slave was permitted his personal god, while the pretender now had none.

Yet the Hebrew slave had said something--and where there was one Persian, there could be a thousand more.

The book of Exodus permits the purchase of a Hebrew slave, but after six years of service "he shall go out free, for nothing.

The dipping of a simple vegetable into salt water (which represents tears) mirrors the pain felt by the Hebrew slaves in Egypt.

A male Hebrew slave was freed after six years of servitude, while a different set of rules covered female slaves.

But the official position of the Egyptian government was that their ancient forefathers never used Hebrew slaves to build the pyramids.