Exodus Chapter 21, verse 1:
Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them. When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's and he shall go out alone. But if the slave plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for life.
Here God describes how to become a slave for life, and shows that it is completely acceptable to separate slaves from their families. God also shows that he completely endorses the branding of slaves through mutilation
2006-10-01 11:06:19 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The short answer is yes, that is Scripture. The slave, however, knew the rules before he voluntarily entered into servitude. And the "mutilation" that you described wasn't really mutilation. If the slave was happy serving his master he could *volunteer* to serve his master for life. In such a case the slave would wear a symbol in his ear that told everyone that he was a servant for life in his master's house. That's not mutilation. It's a piercing of the ear that many women have done to their ears just to hang an earring off of.
2006-10-01 11:15:30 · answer #1 · answered by brian_in_christ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Israelite society a person who became poor could sell himself or his children into slavery to care for his indebtedness. (Ex 21:7; Le 25:39, 47; 2Ki 4:1) One guilty of thievery but unable to make compensation was sold for the things he stole, evidently regaining his freedom at the time all claims against him were cared for.—Ex 22:3.
At times slaves held a position of great trust and honor in a household. The patriarch Abraham’s aged servant (likely Eliezer) managed all of his master’s possessions. (Ge 24:2; 15:2, 3) Abraham’s descendant Joseph, as a slave in Egypt, came to be in charge of everything belonging to Potiphar, a court official of Pharaoh. (Ge 39:1, 5, 6) In Israel, there was a possibility of a slave’s becoming wealthy and redeeming himself.—Le 25:49
2006-10-01 18:29:20 · answer #2 · answered by heatherlovespansies 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
these rules are part of the old covenant, which Jesus replaced when He beame the New Covenant. in case you haven't noticed, Isreal doesn't do that anymore. a lot of changes occured with the fall of the roman empire. many of the old Jewish traditions were discontinued, such as the blood offerings. make sense?
2006-10-01 18:14:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Things were different 5000 years ago, and the biblewasn't written bY god, but by religious leaders and educated men. They were the people who could afford slaves, and it was only to their benefit to continue this practice as long as possible. Sort of likethe American slaveholders of the17th and 18th century.
2006-10-01 18:12:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
people will try to tell you that this is the "old way", and that the NT has sorta nullified it. but the real question is, why would god EVER condone a punishment like this???? like,,, as if we deserve better, more fair treatment, but that it's ok for the people of long ago to be subjected to this. ------ ridiculous. christianity is a disgusting religion. people who defend it are dangerous.
2006-10-01 18:13:19 · answer #5 · answered by tobykeogh 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope----- Slavery was the common thing.
God did not invent it!
Man has and had FREE WILL-- they captured and made slaves of people.
Many people preferred to REMAIN SLAVES!
It is interesting that you believe you are wiser than The God.
Else you would not be questioning HIM!.
2006-10-01 18:10:08 · answer #6 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
He doesn't. No one is subject to this anymore. This scripture is basically just historical.
2006-10-01 18:09:17 · answer #7 · answered by Augustine 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
SO?
You do not understand the culture. There are several scholarly works available on-line which would help you.
2006-10-01 18:09:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
to live in peace for one
2006-10-01 18:09:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋