What are the connotations of "Lo Sirdeh bo be'Farech"?
Rashi and Sifra: It means 'Don't ask the Eved Ivri to warm you some water for which you have no need, or to dig around the vine until you return (without telling him when you intend to return'. 1 And in case you make out that it is necessary, the Torah adds "Veyareisa me'Elokecha" ? which the Torah always writes concerning matters to do with the heart.
Ibn Ezra, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means 'Do not subjugate him with hard work'.
See Torah Temimah, note 222. Clearly, it is only here in connedtion with an Eved Ivri that the Sifra translates "be'Farech" in this way ? since the Torah writes "Ki Tov lo Imach" and other Pesukim regarding not maltreating him, and in Pasuk 53, in connection with an Eved Ivri who is sold to a Nochri "Lo Yirdenu be'Ferech .." (with regard to back-breaking work), which renders a prohibition aganst subjugating him with hard work superfluous. Everywhere else, "be'Ferech" means subjugating with hared mark ? as in Sh'mos, 1:14.
Having already said in Pasuk 39 "Lo Sa'avod bo Avodas Aved", why does the Torah repeat it here?
Rashi: The current Pasuk refers to making him perform unnecessary tasks in order to torment him. 1
Why does the Pasuk insert "Veyareisa me'Elokecha"?
Rashi: Because nobody knows what is in his mind, whether the work is needed or not, other than Hashem. 1
Refer to 25:43:1:2
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that only Hashem knows what is Avodas Parech - unneeded. We find (in Pasuk 53) that we must stop a Nochri from making an Eved Ivri do such work! And what is Rashi's question (Pasuk 44), who will do such work for us?
Meshivas Nefesh: Perhaps there, "be'Farech" means 'hard work' - though Rashi did not say so.
Meshivas Nefesh #2: "Avodas Parech" includes work that is unnecessary, and work without a known limit 1
Refer to 25:43:1:2. The latter is known to people, and we need slaves to do such work for us. The Rambam (Hilchos Avadim 1:6) explains like this, but the Sifra and our text of Rashi implies that all of the tasks mentioned are not needed. The Pasuk implies that all Avodas Parech is not known to others, therefore it says "ve'Yareisa me'Elokecha"!
Rashi writes that Avodas Parech is unnecessary. Why would a master weaken his Eved Ivri by making him perform tasks that he does not need?
Toras Moshe: An Eved Ivri leaves at the end of six years, like Yetzi'as Mitzrayim. A master might think that the Eved Ivri will not wants to remain a slave - "Ki Tov Lo Imach". So he subjects him to Avodas Parech - to ake him happy to go free! The Torah therefore forbids this 'Chasidus', which folly.
The master can command matters that do not weaken him, just it is frustrating to toil for no need. Perhaps he wants to pain him! (PF).
Perhaps he orders him to do unnecessary work to prevent him from growing weak from idleness, like Rava said about workers who carry burdens (Bava Metzi'a 77a). Rava said that they prefer working to being idle - they can say so to demand their full wage if the employer retracted, but if such an Eved Ivri says that he prefers to be idle, one cannot order him to do unneessary work. Or, they prefer doing necessary work to being idle (PF).
Perhaps the Eved Ivri did or said something that upset him, or he has taken a dislike to him for some other reason.
