The work slave, servant, bondservant, or bondman was used in the bible to refer to anyone who was living to serve another to earn a living. Slavery was a common practice especially during Mosaic Law, which was introduced to Israelites after they fled from Egypt. The law permitted them to makes slaves either from other Hebrews or from foreigners. The wealth of an individual was measured by the number of the slaves owned.
Both the New and Old Testament addresses the issue of slavery in various ways. Some of the areas dealt with include: how a slave was to be acquired, their rights, how to free them, and their relationship with their masters. The bible also uses slavery as a symbol of sin that hinders the believers from receiving their freedom. …show more content…
A male Hebrew would offer to work as a slave for a period of six years to pay off debts as explained in Exodus 21:2-6. Some of the slaves would go with their wives and after the lapse of their slavery period, they would leave with their families. In some cases, the masters would offer a wife to the slave, but she continued to be the property of the master. After the slavery period, the slave would opt to go alone leaving behind the wife and the children they had borne or he would choose to remain a permanent slave (Whitford). The slaves that were to be freed in the 7th year and had entered slavery voluntarily were entitled to separation packages as described in Deuteronomy …show more content…
Debtors that could not repay back what they owed their creditors were forced to offer their children as slaves as seen in 1 Kings 4:1. A Hebrew would also become a slave in the event of theft where the offender could not afford to pay the restitution as explained in Exodus 22:1-3. Anyone caught stealing a sheep or a lamb was forced to pay five others. The period of slavery in this matter was equated to the value of restitution required.
It was the parents who determined the slavery of the Hebrew females according to Exodus 21:7-11. The parent would sell and she was bound to remain a slave for the rest of her life unless when the master was unsatisfied with her thus allowing her redemption (Osiek). The master, however, did not have the authority to resell the female to a foreign even if he was displeased with her. A female would also receive freedom if the master was pleased with her. In such cases, the master would give her to his son for marriage, which qualified her to receive the rights equal to those of the master’s
Both the New and Old Testament addresses the issue of slavery in various ways. Some of the areas dealt with include: how a slave was to be acquired, their rights, how to free them, and their relationship with their masters. The bible also uses slavery as a symbol of sin that hinders the believers from receiving their freedom. …show more content…
A male Hebrew would offer to work as a slave for a period of six years to pay off debts as explained in Exodus 21:2-6. Some of the slaves would go with their wives and after the lapse of their slavery period, they would leave with their families. In some cases, the masters would offer a wife to the slave, but she continued to be the property of the master. After the slavery period, the slave would opt to go alone leaving behind the wife and the children they had borne or he would choose to remain a permanent slave (Whitford). The slaves that were to be freed in the 7th year and had entered slavery voluntarily were entitled to separation packages as described in Deuteronomy …show more content…
Debtors that could not repay back what they owed their creditors were forced to offer their children as slaves as seen in 1 Kings 4:1. A Hebrew would also become a slave in the event of theft where the offender could not afford to pay the restitution as explained in Exodus 22:1-3. Anyone caught stealing a sheep or a lamb was forced to pay five others. The period of slavery in this matter was equated to the value of restitution required.
It was the parents who determined the slavery of the Hebrew females according to Exodus 21:7-11. The parent would sell and she was bound to remain a slave for the rest of her life unless when the master was unsatisfied with her thus allowing her redemption (Osiek). The master, however, did not have the authority to resell the female to a foreign even if he was displeased with her. A female would also receive freedom if the master was pleased with her. In such cases, the master would give her to his son for marriage, which qualified her to receive the rights equal to those of the master’s