The Bible condones slavey as seen in colonial America

Before we begin, we need to look at the types of people that Israelites enslaved. The People who were enslaved: Unlike the African slaves who were kidnapped from their homes by slave traders during the colonial era, those enslaved by the Israelites as recorded in the Bible fall under two categories: 1. The people of pagan nations in which the Israelites have conquered The reason as to why these people have been enslaved was because of their wickedness. These pagan nations have committed atrocities of their own. Take for example Leviticus 18:21-24 “And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech.... Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you.” This means that they are literally burning children alive as offerings to a false god. If such nations are revolved around such actions taking the right to life and freedom from the children they burn, would it be morally justifiable to take away their freedom? Such things happen in our modern society today where we take the freedom of those who commit crimes like murder or theft by locking them up in jail and occasionally force them to do work such as community service. Yet, do people condemn such behavior. It seems more humane than to outright kill them. 2. Those who are unable to pay their debts or live in poverty could sell themselves into slavery Although this may seem at first cruel or unusual punishment, you have to look at the historical context. Back before the time of bankruptcy laws or food stamps, how would a person deal with a debt that he cannot pay for in a way that is fair to both the loaner and the borrower. You could throw the debtor in jail, but such isn’t fair for the lender as he cannot be paid back as his borrower is in jail. The Bible records such happening on multiple occasions. Take for example Leviticus 25:47-49: “Now if a sojourner or stranger close to you becomes rich, and one of your brethren who dwells by him becomes poor, and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner close to you, or to a member of the stranger’s family, after he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him; or his uncle or his uncle’s son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself.” Note that the Bible also condemns those who were enslaved through kidnapping. Take for example Exodus 21:16 “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.” Rules and laws regarding the treatment of slaves: There is substantial evidence that slaves were treated well. In Deuteronomy 15:12-17, “And if thy brother, a Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day. And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant forever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.” First off, it states that within seven years of ownership, a master is to set his slave free. The second thing noted from this is that there is also a law for a scenario where a slave doesn’t want to leave his master implying that the relationship between master and slave is mutually beneficial. Slaves are also provided protection under the laws from masters who would abuse them. One right a slave has is if a slave owner is cruel, the slave has the right to run away and the law condemns him to be returned. Deuteronomy 23:15-16 “You shall not give back to his master the slave who has escaped from his master to you. He may dwell with you in your midst, in the place which he chooses within one of your gates, where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him.” This biblical laws seems to explicitly contradict the fugitive slave law in the United States that required citizens to return African American slaves to their masters. Might I also bring up Exodus 21:26-27 “If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for the sake of his eye. And if he knocks out the tooth of his male or female servant, he shall let him go free for the sake of his tooth.” Conclusion: I have provided substantial evidence that the biblical laws regarding slavery go against the treatment and enslavement of African Americans during the colonial times in America. Sources: The Holy Bible