Why the God of the Bible need slaves?

Question

Numbers 31:35-40 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society


35 and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.

36 The half share of those who fought in the battle was:
337,500 sheep, 37 of which the tribute for the LORD was 675;

38 36,000 cattle, of which the tribute for the LORD was 72;

39 30,500 donkeys, of which the tribute for the LORD was 61;

40 16,000 people, of which the tribute for the LORD was 32

This last verse what is the meaning?

Answer 1

Slave or indentured servitude. Please understand there was nothing as today back then. No elect./ no modern plumbing - EVERYTHING was manual labor. Making butter, food preparation, toilet, bath room - everything.
This took man power.
This is why people made tools to replace people.
The butcher and baker, candlestick maker, lumber, everything today has tools to replace the huge numbers of people to do the same job.
So having no training, and having seen this for the first time: I see this as 32 people taken to work in the temple for all the tasks there must be done by someone.

Of course GOD does NOT need slaves.

Humans in the PAST did, but not anymore.

Answer 2

It's either a false justification for slavery, or yet another Bible verse that can be interpreted a million different ways. Yes, the Bible says slavery is ok. It gives certain limits to what a slave-owner can do. Nonetheless, slavery, according to the Bible, is absolutely alright with God. Of course, this is just more evidence the Bible is the word of man, and not the word of (a non-existent) God.

Answer 3

Please go back and read Chapter 31: 9 through 16 and you will find your answer. YOU MUST pick up the SUBJECT, you cannot start in the middle of something and hope to understand it. This will help you if you re-read it. Go slow if you have to, and get a King James Bible if you have one as that version is the closest to the right translation. There are mistakes in it also, so be careful.

Answer 4

these were captured people in a war like situation. It never says God needed these slaves rather that they were paid out of the war chest and given to the priests (Levites), who no doubt had them carry water , feed animals and all those things a slave would do. You might keep in mind that these priests were required to take better care of these slaves than businesses take care of their employees today in the U.S. Ther was not as much differance in the living conditions of the slave and the priests and the slave as there is today between the employee and the CEO's and stock holders or owners of many American bussinesses

Answer 5

Keep in mind that slavery was a part of the old world. Slavery in this context would be indentured servitude to the nation of Israel. It was part of the price paid for losing a war.

Was it good and righteous? Not to modern Christians, except in light of the customs of the old world, and God's instructions for building the nation of Israel.

Answer 6

God doesn't need slaves.
I wonder how long any of us 21st century types would survive back in those primitive times, without a couple of "servants"??

Answer 7

Why the God of the Bible need slaves?
HE does not..

A list of numbers of peoples is just a historical record- it does not say HE condones anything.

The word slave is often substituted for the word SERVANT.

Answer 8

slaves are needed when there is a work to be done.

God needed co-workers because there is a work needed to be done.

read I Corinthians 3:9

I am a servant of the Living God. and I am not ashamed of that.

Answer 9

I'm sorry. I thought your question was about slaves. God never needed slaves.