| Jereel Hunter said: Context is everything! Many of the laws were given for a very specific period of time. (i.e. hygiene laws that were in effect during time periods when there was no knowledge of germs, quarantine laws when there was no knowledge of how diseases spread) Now for something like slavery, you need to realize that slavery in ancient Israel was NOT the same as slavery today. It's basically a different definition. Slavery, as it was practiced in US history, for instance, would never have flown in Bible times. The fact that we choose to use the same word to describe a different scenario is on us. First of all slavery in ancient Israel was something you sold yourself in to, to pay debts, and was essentially a long term work contract. You would not be kidnapped and forced to work. Second, in ancient Israel, there was a periodic "Jubilee year" in which all slaves were freed and land reverted back to its original families. This meant that noone was born into slavery, and noone had to die in slavery. Slavery back then was essentially the situation people in heavy debt find themselves in today: they have to work to pay their debts, not able to accumulate anything. The difference being that within their lifetime, they would be freed and have land once again, guaranteed. If someone beat their slave to death, they'd be put to death too, because slaves were people, not property, and it would be murder. Likewise, when it talked about the nation of Israel's wars, and sometimes they would be commanded to purge almost everyone. Sounds pretty heartless, right? But how are you judging this? Look for a moment, at the Middle East, some individuals have been fighting, and full of hatred for generations and generations. Millions have died. Countless people grow up hating those in the next country, and conflicts with no end in sight continue. Boys see their fathers die, grow up angry, and when they are old enough, have more children who they will teach to hate. Is this somehow better than killing a few thousand people? Objectively, it's so, so much worse. But we don't have the benefit of being about to see the horrible effects of a war ripple through time. God does. Did the Israelites purge every nation in the land of Canaan? No. Were they always ordered to kill everyone? No. We see a story that looks bad on the surface, not considering the endless generations of conflict that could have been the result under different circumstances. But there's more to the story: When we have no faith, death is the ultimate 'bad outcome', and this story is merely a tale of bloodshed. In the context of a loving creator giving these orders, however, we know that 1) the commands were given for the best outcome in the long run 2) In the prophecied ressurection, the creator has the ability to bring back anyone killed in these purges that didn't deserve it. |
There is no "different type of slavery". That's the typical justification. The definition of slavery is "one person owning another person as property". That's what happened in those biblical stories: people owning other people. That is wrong, no matter how you spin it. If it was considered anything else, regarding paying debts, work contracts, etc. it would be considered a job at best, and indentured servitude at worst. But no, it says you can take on slaves. And only Jewish slaves were allowed to be released, after 7 years (this may be what you're referring to, in paying off debts). If your slave was from another nation, you got to keep that man permanently. And pass him down to your kids if you die. (Leviticus 25: 44-46, so yea, they are property). And it's just your "fellow Israelite" that you're not supposed to treat badly. Slaves from other nations though? Not so good. Yea, if you kill your slave, you get get killed as punishment as well.....but you're allowed to beat your slave as long as they survive a day or two days after the beating (Exodus 21: 20-21). So, don't make it seem like they were treated well. Oh, one more: if you allow your slave to marry (while enslaved), and she has kids....you get to keep the kids and wife as slaves, as well. This verse pertains to Hebrew slaves. If that man, who now has a family, doesn't want to give up his family after that 6 years of work.....welp, he gets a piercing to notify that he is a permanent slave (Exodus 21: 2-6) and he serves the master forever. What part of that has anything to do with repaying debts? "Jubilee year"? Well slaves that happen to love their family won't be able to partake in that, because they are permanent slaves for the crime of loving his wife and kids.
And are you really trying to justify genocide? Because of what might happen?
