Topical Bible: Servants: Slaves or Bond: Strangers Sojourning in Israel Might be Purchased As

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In the biblical context, the term "servants" often refers to individuals who were in a state of servitude or bondage, which could include both voluntary and involuntary forms of service. The practice of servitude in ancient Israel was governed by a set of laws and customs that are detailed in various passages of the Old Testament. These laws provided a framework for the treatment and rights of servants, distinguishing between Hebrew servants and those who were foreigners or strangers residing in the land.

Biblical Context and Laws

The Mosaic Law provided specific guidelines regarding the acquisition and treatment of servants. One of the key distinctions made in the law was between Hebrew servants and foreign servants. Hebrew servants, often referred to as "bondservants," were typically individuals who sold themselves into servitude due to debt or poverty. Their service was generally limited to a period of six years, with release in the seventh year, as stated in Exodus 21:2: "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years, but in the seventh year he shall go free, without paying anything."

In contrast, the law allowed for the purchase of foreign servants, who could be held in servitude for a longer duration. Leviticus 25:44-46 provides insight into this practice: "Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy from the foreigners residing among you and from their clans living among you, who have been born in your land, and they will become your property. You may bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly."

Strangers Sojourning in Israel

The term "strangers" or "sojourners" refers to non-Israelites who lived among the Israelites. These individuals could be purchased as servants, as indicated in the passage from Leviticus. The law provided for their acquisition, but it also imposed certain ethical standards for their treatment. While they could be held as property, the Israelites were reminded of their own history as strangers in Egypt and were commanded to treat sojourners with justice and compassion (Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:33-34).

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The biblical laws concerning servitude reflect a complex interplay of economic, social, and ethical considerations. While the practice of servitude was permitted, the Israelites were called to uphold principles of justice and mercy. The treatment of servants was to be marked by fairness, and the law provided mechanisms for the protection of their rights. For instance, if a master caused physical harm to a servant, the servant was to be set free as compensation (Exodus 21:26-27).

New Testament Perspective

The New Testament does not explicitly abolish the institution of servitude but introduces a transformative ethic that emphasizes the inherent dignity and equality of all individuals before God. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, encourages masters to treat their servants with kindness and fairness, recognizing that both master and servant are accountable to the same divine authority (Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1). Furthermore, the spiritual equality of all believers is underscored in Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

In summary, the biblical treatment of servants, particularly those who were strangers or sojourners, reflects a nuanced approach that balances the realities of ancient economic systems with a call to ethical conduct and compassion. The overarching biblical narrative points towards a vision of justice and equality that transcends social and cultural boundaries.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 25:45
Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall you buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Epistle Lxiii. Limenius, Bishop of Vercell??, Having Died, the See ...
... Rightly did those royal slaves prevail over kingdoms, despise ... that feast, I hold
thee by the bond of thy ... wives and children and all his servants, and ordered ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/epistle lxiii limenius bishop of.htm