A Guide To Understanding Old

Testament Ethics: Slavery v

Servitude

Introduction: Proper understanding of terms

When engaging the text we will judge the bible by its original manuscripts rather
than translations in order to judge the text fairly after all attacking the bible based ona single
translation is only an attack on that translation but, if the original manuscripts are wrong the
whole thing falls apart and vice versa.The term slave within the old testament is translated from
the Hebrew word eved or ebed which simply means one who is subservient to,dependent on,
or works for another. Its not a negative term as work is part of Gods ideal and submission is
demanded even of the angels in all their power.This is written in the context that everyone, even
the king was considered and ebed of a sort to God.The title could be considered therefore an
honorable position. The idea that someone could be considered and ebed in no sense
whatsoever may not have heard of. In christianity even the most intelligent (Matthew 8:29; 2
Corinthians 11:3; 1 Peter 1:12), ,god fearing (Psalm 103:20; Revelation 22:9) immensely
powerful instruments of God's justice (Revelation 7:1; 8:2) capable of slaying 185,000 Assyrian
soldiers in a night(2 Kings 19:35),protectors of people (Daniel 6:2023) and nations(Daniel
12:1),that bring answers to prayer(Acts 12:5-10), and care for the righteous upon death(Luke
16:22), spirit beings(Hebrews 1:14) with presences so great that they must warn those they

encounter not be afraid (Luke 1:13, 30; 2:10; Matthew 28:5), overwhelming in all their majesty
that they have to command the children of God not to worship them(Revelation 19:910),and
expertise of Gods own word (James 2:19; Revelation 12:12) be they cherubim or archangel are
subservient.Submission to authority is not wickedness.We read in the context of
submission,work, and humility as being holy.
The term is not as common now as it always has been. In fact the KJV has 2
occurrences of the word,once in each testament, whereas its 20th century counterpart the NKJV
has 46 occurrences.When the term began to rise in occurrences in translation to the best of my
knowledge the terms slave and servant overlapped more but now in the 21st century the term
servant means non-slave.Therefore in modern times when we translate slave the reader is often
understandably and unmistakably going to experience difficulty reading the passage without
breathing in their remembrance of the atrocities involving a masters complete and other
despotism/dominion over another involving crimes of rape,beatings,and many other forms of
abuse. When one reads the passages they cant help but hear the sounds of chains clacking or
cries of separated families. When reading these passages its crucial not to your understanding
associate some of the greatest shames in world history, your knowledge of the subsequent
systems New World/Antebellum Slavery(from North America,Greece,Rome) with the available
text as such hasnt even happened yet. It is utterly crucial not to breathe your 21st century
understanding of text into the text written centuries ago. Such man-stealing (Exodus 21:16) and
racial prejudice is condemned (Genesis 1:26).In the 21st cenury the sort of contractual
agreement discussed in the bible is varied and voluntary with the exception of criminals in
restitution who couldnt pay their debts.In fact in the New Testament slave-traders by our
understanding (as the greek mauscripts did us the word as we understand)are listed amongst
the ungodly and sinful and are in the same category as those who kill their fathers or mothers,
murderers, adulterers and perverts, and liars and perjurers (1 Timothy 1:810).
The terms sell,buy, and purchase in the old testament translate what simply meant
acquiring with silver. Terms like property render the word silver therefore when one is called the
property of another in reality they are silver, extremely valuable to their master. Such words
dont suggest a lack of human worth but rather they are the nature of legal transaction. In the
book of Ruth Boaz acquires Ruth but, readers can come to the understanding that she is still on
equal footing with Boaz in value.Think of athletes and their corporations.They are
purchased,owned, and traded but obviously there worth is in tact. When we are told that they
may be kept forever. In other words they may remain servants provided that they dont pay their
debt,have it payed,or arent injured.In the following paragraphs we will discuss how motivations,
entry, treatment, and benefits make old testament servititude incomparable to antebellum
slavery in every sense of the word.
PART 1: Motivations and Entry
In antebellum slavery one is taken against their will and subjected at their own
expense for another's personal gain however in ancient Israel the primary motives were the
economic relief of the poor be they foreigners who happened to be on the wrong side of Israels
military conquests or simply had fallen on hard times,debtors who couldnt manage their fees,or
criminals in restitution. Servants would enter this system one of the following ways:

(1)Temp Indentured Hebrew Servitude: Servants who couldnt pay their debts or fell into
poverty would serve for a span of 7 years unless they desired to become permanent and enter
category 2 (Exodus 21:2,Deuteronomy 15:12-15 L
eviticus 25:35-37)
.God gave Mosaic legislation in the Old Testament to prevent the poor from entering, even
temporarily, into voluntary indentured service. As such the poor could partake in their fellow
Israelites harvest (Leviticus 19:9,10; 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:20,21; cp. Exodus 23:10).God
commanded fellow-Israelites to lend freely to the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7,8), and to n
ot charge
them interest (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36,37). And when the poor could not afford sacrificial
animals less-expensive ones (Leviticus 5:7,11).Debts cancelled every 7 years at which point the
master was to generously provide for them without a grudging heart (Deuteronomy 15:10).
(2) Permanent Hebrew Servitude:It was not uncommon for a servant to love their masters
treatment to such an extent that they ask to remain permanent. They could become part of the
family.(Exodus 21:5,Deuteronomy 15:16,17)
(3)Involuntary Hebrew and Gentile Criminals in Restitution: Just like in modern times there
are several crimes that required labor as part of payment for a conviction. Since Israel lacked a
jail system servants would labor to pay their debts to society and to God.
(Exodus 22:1-3)
(4)Permanent Pagan Servants: These servants would join the nation of Israel after military
conquest(Leviticus 25:44-46) . Let it be known however that this does not suggest Israel could
destroy cities on a whim and take the pagans as servants against their will.Israel was not to
engage in violence unless absolutely necessary for example in the case of the canaanites who
had 400 years to turn from their wickedness and were ultimately destroyed for having burnt their
children to Molech and had sex with animals (Genesis 15:1316).
Under no circumstances was anyone to be dragged against their will. In fact if you were found
out to have stolen someone,sold them, or possessed them you would be sentenced to
death.(Exodus 21:16)Runaways who came to ancient Israel were to live amongst its people
safe from the cruel systems of slavery in Israels time. They were allowed to choose their home
(Deuteronomy 23:15,16). They were all contractual in other words mutual agreements with
another even if undesired and not the ideal in the case of criminals in restitution.
Part 2: Punishment,Protection,and Prestige
It is true that Old Testament Mosaic Legislation allowed for the punishment of servants but,
only the exact sort of punishment prescribed for anyone else.(Exodus 21:20,Deuteronomy
25:1-3,Proverbs 10:13,Proverbs 26:3,Proverbs 13:24), It didnt make them subject to unfair
treatment so much as it simply didnt make them exempt. The original text says that if a servant
is beaten but survived the master shall not be killed as the servant is their silver not possession
or property. In other words a servants help is so valuable that it would be unthinkable that a
master intended to kill their servant(Exodus 21:20). A presiding judge would give the master the

benefit of the doubt if it could be seen that they had made provisions to heal their servant by
paying a doctor. This doesn't however mean that the master may beat the servant within an inch
of their life and get off scot free. A judge would examine the servant and if they sound much as
a gauged eye or missing tooth the servant was to be freed immediately with all that they had
and money spent on their labor would have been wasted (Exodus 21:26-27). Either God is
really obsessed with eyes and teeth or Israel is pretty strict about harming servants.A servant
could be released with all that they owned if they judge lost so much as a tooth on day
one.When was the last time you heard of that? A master was commanded to be kind,respectful,
and humane in their servants treatment (Leviticus 25:43, 46, 53,Deuteronomy 15:18) Servants
were given a list of privileges.In fact:
1. Servants could relax/rest on the 7th day just as their masters(Exodus
20:9-10,Exodus 23:12,Deuteronomy 5:13-14).
2. Servants were given religious privileges as they could join in religious
celebrations and holidays(Deuteronomy 12:12,Deuteronomy 12:18)
3. Servants could be brought into the Jewish covenant and become Jewish believers
alongside their masters(Exodus 12:43-44,Genesis 17:12-13,Leviticus 22:10-11)
4. Servants had privileges and rights within the homes of their masters and could
even share in the inheritance(Genesis 24:2,Proverbs 17:2)
5. Servants were trusted with weapons.
6. Servants were treated with such benefits and kindness that even their own fellow
Israelites might want to make it permanent.(Exodus 21:5,Deuteronomy 15:16,17)
and foreigners were to be treated with same kindness as a fellow Israelite:
Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.(Exodus 22:21)
Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you
were foreigners in Egypt(Exodus 23:9)
When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing
among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners
in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.(Leviticus 19:33-34)
You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the LORD your
God.(Leviticus 24:22)
The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this
is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same
before the LORD: The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner
residing among you.(Number 15:15 -16)
Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two
Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you.(Deuteronomy 1:16)

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome,
who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the
widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are
to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.(Deuteronomy
10:17-19)
Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the
widow.(Deuteronomy 27:19)
Part 3:Exit
In the antebellum south one was almost always a servant for life unless they escaped(and
didnt get caught) however in the Old Testament a servant can exit the system one of the
following ways after all this system was never the ideal.Unless they exit by one of the prescribed
legislations they would become the servant to the child of the previous master.
(1) Injury: If a servant was injured the prescribed judge would let them go free(Exodus
21:26).
(2) National day of debt and forgiveness: E
very 7th year hebrew servants would be
released(Exodus 21:2)
(3) Debt Canceled(Other): A family member could pay your debt( Leviticus 25:47-49).
(4) Debt Canceled(Self): With enough prosperity one could cancel their own debt (Leviticus
25:49)
Part 4:Comparing the Systems Old Testament Servitude vs Antebellum Slavery
Title: In antebellum slavery slave is given as a derogatory term suggesting a lack of human
worth whereas in Old Testament Servitude servants who are paid for are referenced using a
term that could to some extent be used to describe any. In a society where kings could be called
by the same title and being a subservient,humble,hard worker ought to be praised.
Kidnapped:Slavery especially considering the antebellum south consisted of dragging one
against their will. Such a practice in the old testament would be punished with execution
whether you took,sold, or possessed the individual kidnapped(Exodus 21:16).Servitude was
always voluntary with the exception of criminals in restitution and never dragged one against
their will. In biblical times one would sell himself as a worker,human worth in tact, or perhaps
create a contractual agreement for another family member. For example a daughter might
become married in this way considering women of this time were uneducated and couldnt
supply for themselves.This offered her protection as women relied on their fathers, brothers,
and husbands for provision and protection. Unmarried women were often subjected to
prostitution and slavery(in the antebellum sense). This kind of a marriage protected them..
Legal Rights: Slaves in the antebellum system were subject to a masters complete and utter
despotism whereas servants in the old testament had anti-harm laws,could become jewish
believers,could relax on the Sabbath,share in inheritance,and were trusted with swords and
weapons. In fact in the Old Testament there was a kinsman redeemer who made provisions for
the servant.

Food; Slaves were likely given no more than needed to survive whereas Israel had laws to
protect even the poor and ensure they could partake in their fellow Israelites harvest (Leviticus
19:9,10; 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:20,21; cp. Exodus 23:10).
Holidays: In contrasts to the slavery system of say Ancient Rome the servitude of Israel
allowed servants to celebrate religious holidays including the Sabbath and even become
believers themselves.
Chains: Slaves of the antebellum system were dragged and chained. Chains entail the idea
that one is being taken against their will which we clearly discussed is unacceptable there is no
mention whatsoever of chains being used in the Old Testament.
Sexual Abuse; Slaves of the antebellum were at the disposal of their masters however under
mosaic legislation both rape and adultery were punishable by execution be it with your servant
or not.
Torture/Physical Abuse: In the antebellum system slaves could be beaten or even killed.
Under the mosaic legislation of the Old Testament however it you could be killed for killing your
own servant and a judge would examine your servant. The servant was considered not your
property nor your possession but according to the original manuscripts rather your silver. If you
made provisions to heal them you would be given the benefit of the doubt. This doesn't mean
that you may do as you like however as if the judge noticed so much as a missing tooth or
gouged eye you were to go free(See Part 2 Above).
Murder: In contrast to the antebellum systems that allowed you to kill your slave killing a
servant in the Old Testament was a crime worthy of capital punishment. A life for a life.
Exit:There was no legal exit in the antebellum however in the Old Testament people could exit
by payment of debt by oneself or another,injury, and in some cases the national day of debt and
forgiveness. Although they may not want to leave. In fact legal provisions were made such that
if one decided to stay with their master of their own will they could stay.
Conclusion
The antebellum system is one of of dragging one against their will, restricting them of
any and all human worth,with no virtually no possibility of exit and almost certainly no legal way
to exit all to the benefit of the master. The Old Testament legislation condemns kidnapping and
inquires contractual/mutual agreements,maintains human dignity and worth while adding
privileges such as an inheritance,gives legal exits and commands that runaways from the
uncivilized barbaric slavery of surrounding nations be taken under your wing, all to the benefit of
the poor and debtors and punishment of criminals in restitution. Anyone who is given inheritance
and trusted with weapons on par with that of their masters is hardly oppressed. Bible critics
simply create their own strawman of servitude to attack the Bible engaging the believer with a
flurry of repeated accusations such as slavery is still slavery and recited verses while never

actually engaging the substance provided. He/She simply purports that the bible allows what we
call slavery because, he/she is ignorant or willfully denying the truth in favor of their own desires
and presuppositions at which point one must doubt their sincerity as a genuine seeker of biblical
truth.A misunderstanding of hebrew literature and correlation between mosaic legislations and
the antebellum have led to a gross mischaracterization of The God of The Bible.In conclusion
The Old Testament system above while not always the ideal is utterly and unmistakably in a
category of its own with no correlation to the antebellum and virtually any deeper connection
between the two is at best illusory as this is much closer to the indentured servitude of colonial
America..Best wishes.God bless you and m
ay the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love
of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
As one scholar writes: We have in the Bible the first appeals in world literature to treat slaves
as human beings for their own sake and not just in the interests of their masters
.Old Testament scholar Christopher Wright observes: No other ancient near Eastern law has
been found that holds a master to account for the treatment of his own slaves (as distinct from
injury done to the slave of another master), and the otherwise universal law regarding runaway
slaves was that they must be sent back, with severe penalties for those who failed to comply.
Sources and Continuation:
http://www.bethinking.org/bible/does-the-bible-support-slavery
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-slavery.html
http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/four-differences-between-new-testament-servitude-and-ne
w-world-slavery/
http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/201102/201102_108_slavery.htm.cfm
https://www.gotquestions.org/angels-Bible.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/polygamy.html
Is God A Moral Monster by Paul Copan