A) INTRODUCTION.

B) SLAVERY OR SERVANT-HOOD.

C) THE SLAVE TRADE.

D) SUMMERY.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

It NEVER ceases to annoy the Bible commentator with the attempts to discount the Bible by whoever, when they don’t even accept the Bible Itself.  But anyone who is honest and not trying to deceive -- as opposed to their opponents -- must defend their belief system or yield to the newly discovered truth, or undefendable doctrine.  So here we go.

 

The Biblical FACT of “slavery” in the Bible is all about “Redemption.”  That’s right, “Redemption.”  A person who could not pay a debt is given an opportunity to work it off (Redeemed).  One could also so love his “Master,” i.e., “Redeemer,” that they would choose to live out their life working for them (see Exo. 21:5-6).  If that sounds like slavery to you, stop going to your place of work, being a slave to your boss.  Or, put yourself in jail instead of paying off your college debt.

 

In a statement made about Ephesians 6:9, my favorite Bible commentator makes this comment:  “[459] It was not the apostle’s work to overturn arbitrarily or suddenly the established order of society.  To attempt this would be to prevent the success of the Gospel.  But he taught principles which struck at the very foundation of slavery and which, if carried into effect, would surely undermine [460] the whole system.”  AA:459-460.

 

A more powerful statement can be found in the Bible itself, that PROVES that slavery was NEVER intended as a right for masters to perform.  Here it is in Exodus 21:16:  “And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.”  Thus, the Biblically accepted penalty for enslaving someone against their will was DEATH.  That is hardly a condoning of a practice the Bible is accused of pardoning, overlooking, or even tolerating.

 

 

B) SLAVERY OR SERVANT-HOOD

 

 

The most common usage and form of “slavery,” which is really “servant-hood,” as used in the Bible, is found in Genesis 9:25; 24:9; Exodus 21:5; Matthew 8:9; 10:24; Luke 17:7; Ephesians 6:5 for examples.  However, it must be acknowledged that “slavery” in the Jewish community was highly regulated by our Lord (see Exo. 21:1-11 & 20-21 & 26-27 & 32; Lev. 19:20-22; 25:6 & 10 & 35-55; Deu. 15:12 & 14 & 18; 24:7; Col. 4:1; and see also 1Ti. 6:1 as to how a servant was to treat his master).  In all of these texts, the people were really considered to be “servants,” and not “slaves,” as the world treats them (see Exo. 21:7-11).  So much so, that some people, under the Jewish system of “slavery,” i.e., “servant-hood,” wanted to remain in that position even though they had the privilege of becoming free (see again Exo. 21:5-6).

 

In looking at Exodus 21:7-11, we can see that the “virgins,” of Numbers 31:40, who became “slaves,” and not “offerings,” i.e., “tribute,” and our “LORD’S heave offering” of verse 41, in Numbers, Chapter 31, were treated respectfully and decently, in so much that they could even move up to the status of becoming a “daughter-in-law.”

 

Consider also how Abraham treated his “slaves,” i.e., in reality as “servants,” even before the instructions of “how to” treat them, as given to Moses later.  Our Lord always considers any human being to have the equal rights of another, even though we continue to exploit those rights of people under us (created “in the image of God; Gen. 1:27; 9:6).

 

The Bible also contains several references to unnatural “slavery,” which was a common practice in antiquity.  However, the Bible stipulates the treatment of “slaves,” especially in the Old Testament, and especially as a “slave” being a workman and nothing more (Exo. 21:2-6; Lev. 25:39-66; Deu. 15:12-18).  There are also references to slavery in the New Testament (Eph. 6:5 [see above]; 1Ti. 6:1).

 

 

C) THE SLAVE TRADE

 

 

That the “slave trade” was Biblically allowed can be seen by discovering Leviticus 25:44-46.  However, these were to be only non-Israelites (Lev. 19:33-34), and other rules applied to ensure that these “slaves” were treated morally.  Let’s explore some of these below.

 

Israelite “slaves” [“servants,’ see above] were to be offered release after six to seven years of service, with some conditions (Exo. 21:2-6; Deu. 15:12-18).  While foreign “slaves” and their posterity became the perpetual property of the owner’s family (Lev. 25:44-47), except in the case of certain injuries (Exo. 21:26-27).

 

In an interesting twist, the Bible has been cited as justification for slavery by its defenders (see Stringfellow, in his work, “A Scriptural Defense of Slavery,” 1866; and Raymund Harris, in his work, “Scriptural Researches on the Licitness of the Slave”).  Abolitionists have also used texts from the New Testament to argue for the manumission of slaves (see John R. McKivigan, Mitchell Snay, in their work, “Religion and the Antebellum Debate Over Slavery”).

 

In the Ancient Near East, captives obtained through warfare were often compelled to become “slaves,” and this was seen as a legitimate form of “enslavement,” as long as Israelites were not among the victims (Deu. 20:10-16).  The Bible did institute the death penalty for the crime of kidnapping Israelites by Israelites in an effort to enslave them (Deu. 24:7).  This CLEARLY shows that our LORD did not -- nor does He -- condone the practice of “slavery.”

 

In FACT, Deuteronomy, Chapter 24, ends with these two statements, verse 18:  “But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence:  therefore I Command thee to do this thing.” And verse 24:  “And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt:  therefore I Command thee to do this thing.”  In other words, God is reminding Israel that they were once “slaves” and thus they should not treat others the way they were treated.  And the verses that cover non-Israelites (“strangers) also are covered in verses 14 & 17 & 19 & 20 & 21.

 

If the soldier desired to marry a captured foreigner, there were stipulations.  If he wished to end the relationship, the code stipulated that he must free her.  Deuteronomy 21:10-14.  See also Exodus 21:8.

 

It was also possible to be born into slavery (Exo. 21:2-11).  If a male Israelite “slave” had been given a wife by his owner, then the wife and any children which had resulted from the union would remain the property of his former owner, according to Exodus 21:1-4.

 

Debtors could sell their wives and children into temporary “slavery” (Lev. 25:44).  If a thief is caught after sunrise and is unable to make restitution for the theft, then the thief should be enslaved (Exo. 22:2-3).  Children of a deceased debtor may be forced into “slavery” to pay off outstanding debts (2Ki. 4:1-7); because they were born as slaves (Exo. 21:2-11 above).

 

An Israelite father could sell his unmarried daughters into servitude, with the expectation or understanding that the master or his son could eventually marry them (as in Exo. 21:7-11).

 

The Bible instructs that the woman was to be allowed to be redeemed (Lev. 25:47-55).  If the man broke his betrothal to her, or if a female slave was betrothed to the master’s son, then she had to be treated as a normal daughter.  If he took another wife, then he was required to continue supplying the same amounts of food, clothing, and conjugal rights to her (Exo. 21:7-10).  The Bible states that failure to comply with these regulations would automatically grant free manumission to the enslaved woman (Exo. 21:11), remembering, that all Israelite “slaves” were to be treated as “hired servants” (Lev. 25:46; 1Ki. 9:11).  The betrothal clause seems to have provided an exception to the Law of release in Deuteronomy 15:12 (cf. Jer. 34:14), in which both male and female Israelite servants were to be given release in the seventh year (Deu. 15:12).

 

For those who still see that the Bible condones “slavery” for foreigners, consider that God knew the Israelites needed to keep all foreigners under their control, lest they turn the hearts of the Israelites hearts towards serving other (the foreign slaves) gods; Deuteronomy 7:4 and many others.

 

 

D) SUMMERY

 

 

More applications can be discovered by checking out the verses I’ve already given you above.  Remember, these Laws would only apply to a nation controlled by God (In the Bibles case, Israel).  Thus, to apply these rules today does not work.  For no master today will release a “slave” after 7 years of service.

 

Here is a breakdown of Biblical “slavery,” better, “servant-hood (see Lev. 25:39):”

 

1)  Anyone forcing a person into slavery was to be put to death = Exodus 21:16.

2) Biblical servitude was designed to help the poor = Many of the texts above.

3) Most Biblical servitude was voluntary (just like looking for a job today) = Exodus 21:5-6; Leviticus 25:39.

4) Slaves/Servants were set free after working for 6/7 years = Exodus 21:2; Leviticus 25:40; Deuteronomy 15:1-4.

5) Released servants are not to go away empty handed = Deuteronomy 15:13.

5) A Jewish brother could pay a slaves/servant’s debt = Leviticus 25:48.

6) Masters were Commanded by God to treat them with respect = Leviticus 25:39-40.

7) If a master mistreated his slaves/servants, he was to be punished = Exodus 21:20.

8) The true concept was that the children of Israel were to be servants of God and treat servants the way they would want to be treated = Leviticus 25:55.  Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31:  The Golden Rule.

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