⁴ The owner sent another slave, and this slave the farmers beat over the head and sent away dishonored. ⁵ A third slave, the farmers killed. This went on for some time, with the farmers beating some of the messengers and killing others until the owner had lost all patience. ⁶ He had a son whom he loved above all things, and he said to himself, “When these thugs see my son, they’ll know he carries my authority. They’ll have to respect him.”