When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)
2007-07-25 02:51:25 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Bible condones slavery and abuse of slaves seen as abhorrent under Classical Greek and Roman law.
So much for it being right all the time.
2007-07-25 02:54:47 · answer #1 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not being an expert, I can only guess.
That the owner of the slave really had no idea that the striking of the slave would have such a catastrophic result on the slave.
1) It shows us that whipping or that kind of punishment were acceptable at that time.
2) It shows us that slavery was acceptable at a time.
3) It shows us that the master of the slave is not without mercy.
4) It places ownership as a right, which can be also attributed as the way we ought to perceive God. He has the right of ownership over us.
2007-07-25 09:59:21 · answer #2 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The authors of the Bible lived in a society where owning slaves was normal. They were considered little more than property. There was a similar attitude towards women and children.
Our society has evolved much since then. The "laws" of the Bible are extremely outdated. There are some passages in the Bible that indicate that the idea of human rights and human equality were starting to bloom, and one can look even earlier to the Code of Hammarabi for similar ideas. However, we really haven't assimilated this ideal, as a society, until the past hundred years or so and we're still struggling with it.
2007-07-25 09:54:54 · answer #3 · answered by nondescript 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Read the entire chapter- they were laws of the land-- as we have in this day & age--
The very beginning- talks about buying a servant- however you can't keep them like they did here in America-- You could only keep them for 6 years- they were to go free on the 7th year..etc -- There has always been slavery in the world- even today..
God made man............... man made slaves of his brothers & sisters.
2007-07-25 10:11:40 · answer #4 · answered by darkness breeds 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How convenient that Christians forget passages in the New Testament when they need to..
Matthew Chapter 5
5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law"
Jesus strongly approves of the law and the prophets. He hasn't the slightest objection to the cruelties of the Old Testament.
5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. "Till heaven and earth pass"
Jesus says that the Old Testament laws are binding on everyone forever.
5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven
2007-07-25 11:35:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means what it says. The bible tells us we are alllowed to keep slaves but we should not kill them. We have unfortunately moved away from God's morallity and replaced it with man's morality where slavery is forbidden. It doesn't mean man's morality is right though.
2007-07-25 10:02:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that the Bible was written by evil men who owned slaves. Anyone who considers the Bible “Holy” is supporting slavery. Christians you can try to talk your way around it, but the bottom line is that the Bible condones slavery.
2007-07-25 09:58:13 · answer #7 · answered by Biggus Dickus 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try the New Testament. I mean, Jesus and his disciples went to all that trouble to try and set things straight, it's a shame that people always try to score points with the old one.
2007-07-25 10:01:19 · answer #8 · answered by fakesham43 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most people now agree that slavery is wrong. So your question is not relevant any longer. Dig around in your bible and find something else to question. It is nice to hear you are reading your bible.
2007-07-25 10:39:02 · answer #9 · answered by John himself 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are now not under the law of Moses (as only the jews were) but we are now under Grace. Jesus said to treat others as you want to be treated.
†
2007-07-25 09:58:16 · answer #10 · answered by Jeanmarie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋