In this series, we are examining some of the many commandments which are contained in the Law of Moses.  It is our aim to understand them better, build faith, and answer critics.  We are considering them topically.

1.  Kidnapping.  Kidnapping people to serve or to sell as slaves was forbidden (Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7 cf. 1 Timothy 1:9-10).

Israel was not to hunt people down to be slaves.  There were ways one could become a slave (e.g. war, punishment, debt).  However, taking people to be slaves was forbidden. 

This is different from what some have done in the past and what some still do.  For example, kidnapping and child slavery is reported to be a common part of  West African cocoa (chocolate) farms (Child Labor and Slavery in the Chocolate Industry, foodispower.org).

2.  Permitted slavery.  There were ways one could become a slave under the Law of Moses (Exodus 22:2-3; Leviticus 25:39-47; Numbers 31:9-ff; Deuteronomy 15:12-18).    These ways included: (1) Debt.  One could sell himself into slavery (Leviticus 25:39-40, 47; Deuteronomy 15:12).   One could also sell his children into slavery (Leviticus 25:41, 45-47; Exodus 21:7-11; 2 Kings 4:1; Nehemiah 5:5).  (2) Criminal Punishment/restitution.  One could become a slave if he could not make restitution for theft (Exodus 22:1-4).  (3) War.  One could become a slave due to war (Numbers 31:9, 15-18; Deuteronomy 21:10-14; Also, Joshua 9).

3.  Debts.  Slaves were released from their debts every seven years or on the year of Jubilee (Deuteronomy 15:1-2, 12-15; Leviticus 25:10, 39-40).

Slavery was, in general, limited in time.  War captives seem to be an exception (Leviticus 25:44-46).  Also, one could voluntarily choose to remain a slave for life (Exodus 21:5-6; Deuteronomy 15:16-17).  One who wanted to remain a slave for life was to have his ear pierced through to a door or a doorpost.  This is an odd ceremony.  Why do this?  It is probably symbolic.  James Burton Coffman comments, “The ear is the organ through which the master’s commands are communicated; and such a ceremony indicated that the servant was perpetually bound to heed his master’s commandments and obey them.  It also signified that the servant was permanently attached to the master’s house” (Deuteronomy, p. 170).

Do we have pierced ears?  That is, are we a willing slave of God?  There is a song which says, “Pierce my ear, O Lord, my God; Take me to Your door this day.  I will serve no other god; O Lord, I’m here to stay.  For love.  Ever bound by love” (Song: Pierce My Ear by Steve Croft, 1980).

Some believe that there may be a connection with Hammurabi (Code #282).  Under Babylonian law a rebellious slave could be punished by having his ears cut off.  In the Law of Moses a willing slave chose to have his ears pierced, willfully identifying him as a slave. 

4.  Abuse.  Slaves were not to be abused (Exodus 21:20-21, 26-27; Leviticus 25:39-40).  Israelites were to remember certain things.  They were to remember that all Israelites had once been slaves (Deuteronomy 15:12-15).  They were to remember they had a God above them (Leviticus 25:43 cf. Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1; Job 31:13-15).

There were consequences to abuse.  (1) If a master injured a slave (e.g. destroying an eye, or knocking out a tooth), then the slave was to be set free (Exodus 21:26-27).  (3) If a master killed a slave (e.g. by beating him) he was to be punished (Exodus 21:20).  Dennis Prager comments, “Thus, like any murderer, a master who murders his slave is subject to the death penalty.  Sarna points out that of all the ancient Near Eastern law codes, the Torah is unique in protecting slaves from homicide and other forms of maltreatment by their masters” (Exodus, p.292).

What about Exodus 21:21?  Many have difficulty with this verse. Dennis Prager comments,  “The Hebrew does not say ‘survives,’ it says ‘stands.’  This literal reading may imply that if slave is not so injured as to be unable to get up, the master is not put to death if the slave dies sometime later… In other words, if the slave is strong enough to get up and stand for a day or two, the matter is not punished (with a death sentence)” (Exodus, pp. 292-293).  This may be provided to protect the master from the death penalty should the slave’s death not be clearly the result of the beating.  Another possibility is, “if a master beats his slave and the slave is unable to work for some time, the master has punished himself by losing the work he might have received from the slave.  The implication here is that it is in the master’s best interest to not be too severe” (Why Does the Bible Allow Slaveowners to Beat Their Slaves? Gotquestions.org).

Why did God allow the slave to be beaten?  (1) Many believe in the concept known as progressive revelation.  That is, God started with man where he was and progressively raised his morals over time.  God in the Old Testament tolerated many things which were less than is ideal (e.g. polygamy).  This is not a move from error to truth.  It is a move from some truth to more or clearer truth.  (2) It should be remembered that some of the slaves were criminals and war captives. 

5.  Days off.  Slaves (servants) were given the same time off for religious obligations as others (Exodus 20:8-10; 23:10-12; 12:43-44;Leviticus 25:1-6; Deuteronomy 12:10-12).

They were not worked without rest.  They were allowed to have time off on the Sabbath and other holy days.  They were also allowed time for worship. 

6.  Freedom.  When a slave was freed, he was not to go out empty-handed (Deuteronomy 15:13-14).

The freed slave was to be supplied liberally with provisions.  This was designed to help the man return to a life of freedom. 

7.  Runaway.  A runaway slave from another country could seek refuge in Israel (Deuteronomy 23:15-16).

He was not to be returned to his master.  This appears to have applied only to slaves from outside of Israel.  James Burton Coffman comments, “The presumption here was that Hebrew masters were superior in their treatment of slaves and servants” (Deuteronomy, p. 258).  Perhaps, this is part of the answer.  Also, many lands engaged in the slave trade (e.g. Genesis 37, 39; Ezekiel 27:13; Amos 2:6; 8:6; Joel 3:1-3; Revelation 18:11-13).