The Bible and slavery

11th-century manuscript of the Hebrew Bible with Targum, Exodus 12:25–31

The Bible contains many references to slavery, which was a common practice in antiquity. In the course of human history, slavery was a typical feature of civilization, predated written records,^[1] and existed in most societies throughout history.^[2]^[3] Biblical texts outline sources and the legal status of slaves, economic roles of slavery, types of slavery, and debt slavery, which thoroughly explain the institution of slavery in Israel in antiquity.^[4] The Bible stipulates the treatment of slaves, especially in the Old Testament.^[5]^[6]^[7] There are also references to slavery in the New Testament.^[8]^[9] In both testaments and Jewish culture, there are also practices of manumission, releasing from slavery.^[10]^[11] The treatment and experience of slaves in both testaments was diverse and differed from those of surrounding cultures.^[12]

Many of the patriarchs portrayed in the Bible were from the upper echelons of society, owned slaves, enslaved those in debt to them, bought their fellow citizens' daughters as concubines, and consistently enslaved foreign men to work on their fields.^[13] Masters were usually men, but the Bible portrays upper-class women from Sarah to Esther and Judith with their enslaved maids,^[14]^[15]^[16] as do the Elephantine papyri in the 400s BC.^[13]

It was necessary for those who owned slaves, especially in large numbers, to be wealthy because the masters had to pay taxes for Jewish and non-Jewish slaves because they were considered part of the family unit. Slaves were seen as an important part of the family's reputation, especially in Hellenistic and Roman times, and slave companions for a woman were seen as a manifestation and protection of a woman's honor.^[13] As time progressed, domestic slavery became more prominent, and domestic slaves, usually working as an assistant to the wife of the patriarch, allowed larger houses to run more smoothly and efficiently.^[13] Slaves had rights including protection from abuse, opportunities for redemption and freedom; partly extending from God freeing his people from slavery in Egypt.^[17]

^ "Historical survey: Slave-owning societies". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on February 23, 2007.
^ Pargas, Damian (2023). "Introduction: Historicizing and Spatializing Global Slavery". The Palgrave Handbook of Global Slavery throughout History. Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 3031132629.
^ Engerman, Stanley; Paquette, Robert; Drescher, Seymour, eds. (2001). Slavery (Oxford Reader) (Reprinted ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 1. ISBN 9780192893024. By the end of the twentieth century, slavery was no longer legally or morally acceptable anywhere in the world. Only two centuries ago, slavery was still among the most ubiquitous institutions in human societies, and had existed in most times and places throughout history.
^ Tsai, Daisy Yulin (2014). Human Rights in Deuteronomy: With Special Focus on Slave Laws. BZAW. Vol. 464. De Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-036320-3.
^ Exodus 21:2–6
^ Leviticus 25:39–55
^ Deuteronomy 15:12–18
^ Ephesians 6:5
^ 1 Timothy 6:1
^ Hezser, Catherine (22 December 2005). "The Manumission of Slaves". Jewish Slavery in Antiquity. Oxford University Press.
^ Cobin, David M. (1995). "A Brief Look at the Jewish Law of Manumission – Freedom: Beyond the United States". Chicago-Kent Law Review. 70 (3) – via Scholarly Commons @ IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.
^ Schirrmacher, Thomas (2018). "Slavery in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, and History". The Humanisation of Slavery in the Old Testament. Wipf and Stock. ISBN 9781532655777.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Genesis 16:1
^ Esther 15:2
^ Judith 16:23
^ Schirrmacher, Thomas (2018). The Humanisation of Slavery in the Old Testament. Wipf and Stock. p. 44-48,51. ISBN 9781532655777.

[Slavery-1] "Historical survey: Slave-owning societies". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on February 23, 2007.

[2] Pargas, Damian (2023). "Introduction: Historicizing and Spatializing Global Slavery". The Palgrave Handbook of Global Slavery throughout History. Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 3031132629.

[3] Engerman, Stanley; Paquette, Robert; Drescher, Seymour, eds. (2001). Slavery (Oxford Reader) (Reprinted ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 1. ISBN 9780192893024. By the end of the twentieth century, slavery was no longer legally or morally acceptable anywhere in the world. Only two centuries ago, slavery was still among the most ubiquitous institutions in human societies, and had existed in most times and places throughout history.

[:0-4] Tsai, Daisy Yulin (2014). Human Rights in Deuteronomy: With Special Focus on Slave Laws. BZAW. Vol. 464. De Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-036320-3.

[5] Exodus 21:2–6

[ReferenceC-6] Leviticus 25:39–55

[7] Deuteronomy 15:12–18

[8] Ephesians 6:5

[9] 1 Timothy 6:1

[10] Hezser, Catherine (22 December 2005). "The Manumission of Slaves". Jewish Slavery in Antiquity. Oxford University Press.

[11] Cobin, David M. (1995). "A Brief Look at the Jewish Law of Manumission – Freedom: Beyond the United States". Chicago-Kent Law Review. 70 (3) – via Scholarly Commons @ IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.

[12] Schirrmacher, Thomas (2018). "Slavery in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, and History". The Humanisation of Slavery in the Old Testament. Wipf and Stock. ISBN 9781532655777.

[:1-13] Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[14] Genesis 16:1

[15] Esther 15:2

[16] Judith 16:23

[17] Schirrmacher, Thomas (2018). The Humanisation of Slavery in the Old Testament. Wipf and Stock. p. 44-48,51. ISBN 9781532655777.

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