The Bible and Slavery

[Pigeon]

Recently I came across a video by a youtube personality called Whaddo You Meme where he tackles another video talking about slavery. This is just part 1 however many he plans on doing but while reading the comments, I notice someone bringing up a verse Exodus 21:4-6

If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.
5 “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ 6 then his master must take him before the judges.[a] He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.

They said this is a very problematic loophole owners could own a slave forever. I just want to gleam some kind of commentary or clearer understanding of this text. And about slavery during that time in general. Does the Bible support slavery or condemn it? Or is it neutral?

 

[Corn Pop]

Exodus 21 starts with

"Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. If thou buy an Hebrew servant..."

First im not a Hebrew as this is about Hebrews talking to Hebrews, and second I have never owned or ever wanted to own a Hebrew servant or any human being in general. And third, I don't live in the stone age.

I live under Gods love, peace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and grace.

 

[stovebolts]

Recently I came across a video by a youtube personality called Whaddo You Meme where he tackles another video talking about slavery. This is just part 1 however many he plans on doing but while reading the comments, I notice someone bringing up a verse Exodus 21:4-6


They said this is a very problematic loophole owner could own a slave forever. I just want to glean some kind of commentary or a clearer understanding of this text. And about slavery during that time in general. Does the Bible support slavery or condemn it? Or is it neutral?

Good questions, but first I think there is a need to step back and separate cultural norms.

In modern times, we in America view slavery in light of American history where the color of one's skin denoted the value of his soul. Let it be known that back then, the race was defined by skin color. As such, Negros were considered a lesser race than whites and this justified exploiting and abusing them as a commodity used as commerce.

If we look at the passage you quoted, it was for Hebrews owning Hebrews. They didn't have social security, food stamps or welfare back then and if you couldn't pay back a debt, bankruptcy wasn't an option. But you could lend yourself as a slave to the one you owed until your debt was paid.

The rules for this were humane, and owners were required to treat their slaves in a generous manner. Of course, Jubilee played into this as well.

If after the debt was paid and the slave did not want to go free, his ear was pierced. This shows us the good relationship that could be formed between the two.

David writes about this with thev Lord and from a theological points, we are Gods servants / slaves.

 

[Nathan12]

Does the Bible support slavery or condemn it? Or is it neutral

The Bible does not condemn slavery, neither does it encourage it. The Bible simply presents it as a fact of life. There were also very specific commands to the Israelites about how slaves must be treated, and how Hebrew slaves must be treated.

At the same time it is clear that slavery per se is evil. However, a civil war over slavery was just as evil. And while the Civil War was being fought over emancipation, the Natives (American Indians) were becoming virtual slaves on reservations. Imagine the hypocrisy!

In spite of all the talk about slavery, and the demand for "reparations" by some Blacks (who are actually prosperous), the fact is that slavery and human trafficking are rampant worldwide, even in America and Western Europe. And then we have another kind of slavery which is just as bad -- addictions to hard and soft drugs and alcohol. Then we have slavery to the New World Order, Globablism and the European Union. And finally we have slavery to sin.

The Gospel of Christ is the only antidote to any kind of slavery, and only Christ Himself can set people free.

But then we have Christians VOLUNTARILY putting themselves into bondage to (a) false doctrines, (b) false Christianity, (c) false apostles, prophets and teachers, and (d) a false gospel. How that happen is a part of the Mystery of Iniquity.

 

[Corn Pop]

The rules for this were humane, and owners were required to treat their slaves in a generous manner. Of course, Jubilee played into this as well.

How do you explain verse 20 and 21?

 

[Christ_empowered]

fun fact: the RCC, thru the magisterium, condemned slavery while slavery was still a big business in the US. slave owners in Lousianna, Charleston, etc. simply...went on with their business.

some major Protestant denominations condemned slavery, too. This resulted in North/South splits, as seen with The Baptists and I think some branches of the Presbyterian church (Presbyterians have been splitting and partially reuniting since the 19th century, possibly before...I don't know what the deal is...).

In Malachi, God says He "...hates divorce...," but earlier, one sees fairly lax divorce regulations for men to "put away their wives," etc. thing is...the OT divorce codes were a little bit easier on women and children than what was going on in many cultures around them at the time. true story.

Jesus limited divorce, a whole lot, and opened up the door for women to ditch repeatedly adulterous husbands. Taken with the later NT rules on family roles and such, again, one sees God's concern for the family as a whole, and women+children...people who did -not- matter in most ancient cultures (infanticide was fairly common in Greco-Roman cultures, for instance, but it was prohibited in Christian communities, as was abortion).

personally, I also see a split here between people who "play church" and also...play the church, by controlling the pulpit (like the southern elites who pushed pro-slavery "Christian" propaganda in the years leading up to the Civil War...) and those who simply have a relationship with Christ, pray earnestly, and seek His face and counsel. In the respect...I think it'd be hard to beat the old school Quakers.

 

[john darling]

I just want to gleam some kind of commentary or clearer understanding of this text. And about slavery during that time in general. Does the Bible support slavery or condemn it? Or is it neutral?

One important thing to keep in mind is that God is constantly working with us on a free-will basis. Just because something is documented in the collection of documents we now call the Bible does not mean God supports it.

For example, it was not God's idea for the Isralites to have a king. He had set up a system of tribal judges to govern the people, and confessed to Samuel that they only wanted a King because they had already rejected him. However, he ended up giving them what they wanted despite his strong warnings that a king would only end up making them miserable. 1 Samuel 8:7-20

Another example is the temple in Jerusalem. It wasn't what God wanted, but rather what David (and later Solomon) wanted. God allowed them to do what they wanted (though later the temple became a stumbling block for the people). 1 Chronicals 22: 6-7.

And then there is Jesus' example of how, for the hardness of their hearts, Moses allowed the people to divorce and remarry, but that was not the way God wanted it done. Matthew 19:7-8

What these examples indicate is that even someone with the authority of Moses or David didn't always do it the way God wanted it done, and that while God often punished the people for disobedience in some areas, he also allowed the people to make their own mistakes in other areas.

Slavery is one of those areas. When Jesus said, "you've heard it said in the old times that we should hate our enemies, but I tell you to love your enemies" he was correcting a supposedly established biblical standard. They had rules and laws about how to treat enemies and Jesus blew it all away. The same can be said for the issue of slavery: "You have heard it said in the old times that it's okay to own slaves, but I tell you to treat one another as you'd like to be treated".

 

[stovebolts]

How do you explain verse 20 and 21?

A very good question.
First, these verses are not speaking of a Hebrew bondservant. It is speaking of a Canaanite bondman. We know this by the original Hebrew writing style.
Ramban notes: a Hebrew man or woman, is not called plain eved or amah without any further qualifications.
There are further note supporting this interpretations that i won't bother to type if that's ok with you.

A plain reading of the texts makes one believe it is ok to beat his bondman. It isn't, even if it's a Canaanite and that's why these versus are here specifically pointing out a Canaanite bondsman.

The spirit behind these passages are to get at the intent, which is why a day or two is brought up.

If you beat anyone to death, you have broken the law, even if that person is a Canaanite. Some may play to the letter of the law, and beat that person so he dies tomorrow and can use the excuse it was not his intent.

Adding two days would ensure the survival of the one being beaten and he could seek justice once he recovered, because there are other laws which pertain to how you treat your bondservants.

 

[stovebolts]

One important thing to keep in mind is that God is constantly working with us on a free-will basis. Just because something is documented in the collection of documents we now call the Bible does not mean God supports it.

For example, it was not God's idea for the Isralites to have a king. He had set up a system of tribal judges to govern the people, and confessed to Samuel that they only wanted a King because they had already rejected him. However, he ended up giving them what they wanted despite his strong warnings that a king would only end up making them miserable. 1 Samuel 8:7-20

Another example is the temple in Jerusalem. It wasn't what God wanted, but rather what David (and later Solomon) wanted. God allowed them to do what they wanted (though later the temple became a stumbling block for the people). 1 Chronicals 22: 6-7.

And then there is Jesus' example of how, for the hardness of their hearts, Moses allowed the people to divorce and remarry, but that was not the way God wanted it done. Matthew 19:7-8

What these examples indicate is that even someone with the authority of Moses or David didn't always do it the way God wanted it done, and that while God often punished the people for disobedience in some areas, he also allowed the people to make their own mistakes in other areas.

Slavery is one of those areas. When Jesus said, "you've heard it said in the old times that we should hate our enemies, but I tell you to love your enemies" he was correcting a supposedly established biblical standard. They had rules and laws about how to treat enemies and Jesus blew it all away. The same can be said for the issue of slavery: "You have heard it said in the old times that it's okay to own slaves, but I tell you to treat one another as you'd like to be treated".

Hi John,
Jesus affirmed that the two greatest commandments were to Love God and your neighbor. He went on to say that all of the laws and the prophets hung on these two laws.

There were 613 laws, below is more on one of them regarding slavery... That we should really call a bondservant just so we can get away from the stigma of American slavery and the abuse and exploitation of Negros.

NIV Deuteronomy 15:12 If any of your people—Hebrew men or women—sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. 13 And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. 14 Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.

16 But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, 17 then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant.

Let's put some emphasis on verse 15.
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.

They understood what it was like to be exploited and beaten. They were not to do the same.

As far as the example of " you have heard it said..hate your enemy." Nowhere within Torah ( the law ) will you find any versus that support hating ones enemies. Hating your enemy is not biblical and it never was. In that passage Jesus is not correcting a misinterpretation of the law. Instead, he is correcting a social norm that was being propagated due to what i would assume was caused by Roman occupation.

 

[Nathan12]

Another example is the temple in Jerusalem. It wasn't what God wanted...

How did you arrive at this conclusion? According to Scripture it is exactly what God wanted.

David's charge to Solomon: Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. (1 Chron 28:10)

The Holy Spirit gave the design/pattern to David: And the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD... All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. (vv 12,19)

God would oversee the work of building the temple: And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. (v 20)

 

[john darling]

There were 613 laws, below is more on one of them regarding slavery... That we should really call a bondservant just so we can get away from the stigma of American slavery and the abuse and exploitation of Negros.

Hi SB,
I'm suggesting that just because some guys made laws about how to treat slaves/bond servants doesn't mean that's the way God wanted it done. Moses allowing guys to divorce their wives because they were stubborn is an example of this. Jesus said that wasn't really the way God wanted it. The implication is that there are times when God allows us to make our own mistakes.

 

[stovebolts]

Hi SB,
I'm suggesting that just because some guys made laws about how to treat slaves/bond servants doesn't mean that's the way God wanted it done. Moses allowing guys to divorce their wives because they were stubborn is an example of this. Jesus said that wasn't really the way God wanted it. The implication is that there are times when God allows us to make our own mistakes.

I understand, and I agree with the spirit of your post. I just think we can get thete different ways.
If i may ask, what would cause a Hebrew to become a bond servant to another Hebrew?

 

[john darling]

How did you arrive at this conclusion? According to Scripture it is exactly what God wanted.

1 Chronicles 22:7 David said, "I had it in my heart to build a temple for God". \

It wasn't God's idea. It was David's. Just because God went along with it doesn't mean it was God's will, as illustrated in the example of the people wanting a King from 1 Samuel 8:7-20 .

The evidence shows that, like with the issue of having a king vs the tribal judge system God had set up, the people only became confused with the great and magnificent temple. They invariably started worshiping the gold and their own sacrifices. Matthew 23: 16-19.

Even Stephen, during his swan song, recognized that it was David's desire to build the temple. He started by contrasting the tabernacle which God himself gave meticulous instructions for building verses the temple which David wanted to build. It seems a pretty clear criticism of the temple, especially since he then says, "God does not live in a temple made from hands". Acts 7:46-51. He even finishes this part off by calling them stiff-necked people.

The reason people still think the temple was God's will today is because of their own fascination with buildings. Yes, he went along with it, but almost certainly only to demonstrate that no matter how well intentioned people may be in their desire to build buildings to God, it will always become twisted. It was there in the gospels as well. At his trial, the most damning crime he was accused of committing was that he had threatened their temple and Jesus himself suggested that the temple was a distraction in that it did not matter where people worshiped God, so long as they worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:23

David's charge to Solomon: Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. (1 Chron 28:10)

The Lord only "chose" Solomon because he was the lesser of two evils. God rejected David because of all the blood he had shed. This still falls under the same principle of God going along with the temple idea as a concession to David's strong desire. The way God explains it when David originally raises the idea is that of God doing a favor for David. God created all the universe, and yet here is David saying, "I want to build a house for you". You can almost hear God kinda snorting with mirth at the idea of it.

It becomes even more clear in 2 Samuel 7:4-5 when God basically says, "I was happy with my roving tent and never asked anyone to build a house for me".

The Holy Spirit gave the design/pattern to David: And the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD... All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. (vv 12,19)

Sure, Just like God chose who would be the King of Israel even after he said the people only wanted a king because they had already rejected him.

God would oversee the work of building the temple: And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. (v 20)

Some would argue that it's a little unfair for David to dump his desire for the temple onto Solomon.

Anyway, the point behind all of this is to illustrate that just because there are examples of slavery/bondservants in the old testament, even if it's regulated by a list of rules and even if God comments on how it should be done does not mean it is what God himself wanted. These examples show that God is willing to allow us to pursue paths which are not exactly what he'd want, just as parents today may allow their children to make mistakes just because sometimes there's no amount of lecturing which can show us the folly of our various plans.

 

[john darling]

If i may ask, what would cause a Hebrew to become a bond servant to another Hebrew?

I don't know. According to what Jesus taught they should be servants to one another. I'm probably missing your point, though. Would you mind clarifying?

 

[stovebolts]

I don't know. According to what Jesus taught they should be servants to one another. I'm probably missing your point, though. Would you mind clarifying?

Sure, and thanks for being honest.
If i were to ask you if slavery was bad, you would say yes. If i asked you why, your answer would more than likely stem from our culture. I'm sure all the news events from previous years such as black lives matter, Confederate flag, racial profiling etc not to mention the education you received learning about slavery, Jim Crow etc would all influence your argument that slavery is a bad thing. And I would agree.

It can be dangerous to impose our cultural norms on the biblical texts.

No negro volunteered to leave their family in Africa and be oppressed and abused by another human being. The same thing can be said of national Israel when a new Pharoh decided they were a threat and oppressed and abused them. This type of slavery is sin, and God disapproves.

But this isn't what these passages are talking about. Slavery isn't always a bad thing, and with time, i hope to bring this out.

I don't have the verse, but David writes in the Psalms that his ear is pierced for God. In other words, we are slaves, but who are we slaves to?

Are we slaves to sin? Bad.
Are we slaves to God? Good.

This is the idea and the spirit behind these passages.

 

[john darling]

But this isn't what these passages are talking about. Slavery isn't always a bad thing, and with time, i hope to bring this out.

I don't have the verse, but David writes in the Psalms that his ear is pierced for God. In other words, we are slaves, but who are we slaves to?

Sure, I understand the concept of being slaves to God. But the context of the OP was that of men being slaves to men and using the Bible to support it. I also understand that not all slavery is of the same kind, but the kinds of slavery wasn't the issue.

I am suggesting that, no matter how fair or decent the rules of slavery may have been back in the day of the OT, slavery is not the way God wanted it. He may have tolerated it, or even offered suggestions on how to make it more fair, but it's clear from Jesus' teachings that slavery is not the way God would have preferred men to treat one another.

 

[stovebolts]

Sure, I understand the concept of being slaves to God. But the context of the OP was that of men being slaves to men and using the Bible to support it. I also understand that not all slavery is of the same kind, but the kinds of slavery wasn't the issue.

I am suggesting that, no matter how fair or decent the rules of slavery may have been back in the day of the OT, slavery is not the way God wanted it. He may have tolerated it, or even offered suggestions on how to make it more fair, but it's clear from Jesus' teachings that slavery is not the way God would have preferred men to treat one another.

I understand, and I'm glad you feel this way. However, these laws are Gods laws, not mans laws.

I agree, it's not the way God wanted things. He wants Eden to expand and He desires all men to be saved. But things changed after Eden, and He has been pursuing us every since.

Per the opening statement, it was made known that these laws pertained to Hebrews owning other Hebrews, and that's what I've centered my discussions on while trying to distance the conversation away from modern thinking.

So, let's go back a few thousand years to ancient Israel wandering in the desert for 40 years while oppression and abuse was still fresh in their minds.

There is no welfare system and you relied on your neighbor. Something happens and you borrow money or goods and you find yourself upside down, unable to repay the debt. What do you do?

You can't file bankruptcy and even if you could, what about the guy you owed? Do you now push him into bankruptcy? Point is, none of that was an option.

At this point you have an option. And this needs to be made extremely clear, ... You have the option to become a bond servant to pay back your debt. In other words, you agree to work for this person until one of two things happens.

1. Your debt is paid in full
2. Jubilee comes around which cancels any remaining debt owed.

Within this context, which is what the OP was questioning, Slavery is an acceptable means to repay ones debt.

It is worthy to note that it is within this framework that the Law teaches us to submit to the Lord and become slaves to God.
NI V
Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

 

[Nathan12]

David said, "I had it in my heart to build a temple for God".

You seriously think God does not put certain actions into the hearts of His servants? The rest of that chapter (some of which I quoted) clearly showed that this was God's plan, not David's by himself.

 

[WIP]

I understand, and I'm glad you feel this way. However, these laws are Gods laws, not mans laws.

I agree, it's not the way God wanted things. He wants Eden to expand and He desires all men to be saved. But things changed after Eden, and He has been pursuing us every since.

Per the opening statement, it was made known that these laws pertained to Hebrews owning other Hebrews, and that's what I've centered my discussions on while trying to distance the conversation away from modern thinking.

So, let's go back a few thousand years to ancient Israel wandering in the desert for 40 years while oppression and abuse was still fresh in their minds.

There is no welfare system and you relied on your neighbor. Something happens and you borrow money or goods and you find yourself upside down, unable to repay the debt. What do you do?

You can't file bankruptcy and even if you could, what about the guy you owed? Do you now push him into bankruptcy? Point is, none of that was an option.

At this point you have an option. And this needs to be made extremely clear, ... You have the option to become a bond servant to pay back your debt. In other words, you agree to work for this person until one of two things happens.

1. Your debt is paid in full
2. Jubilee comes around which cancels any remaining debt owed.

Within this context, which is what the OP was questioning, Slavery is an acceptable means to repay ones debt.

It is worthy to note that it is within this framework that the Law teaches us to submit to the Lord and become slaves to God.
NI V
Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

People do things like this even today. There are times when one guy makes an agreement with his neighbor that in exchange for doing something, he will do something for his neighbor. Consider our everyday jobs. We exchange work for cash payment. It just happens that we are paid weekly or biweekly or whatever but in reality we are slaves to those for whom we work. If we take an advance on our pay, then we have to work that much longer to repay the employer for what we borrowed.

 

[john darling]

You seriously think God does not put certain actions into the hearts of His servants?

I never said this. I said that the temple was David's idea.