Topical Bible: Servants: Slaves or Bond: when Israelites not to be Treated With Rigour

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In the biblical context, the terms "servants," "slaves," and "bondservants" often refer to individuals who are in a position of servitude, either voluntarily or involuntarily. The treatment of such individuals, particularly among the Israelites, is a subject addressed in various passages of the Old Testament. The Mosaic Law provided specific guidelines on how Israelite servants were to be treated, emphasizing humane and compassionate treatment, especially when the servants were fellow Israelites.

Biblical Guidelines for Treatment

The Book of Leviticus provides clear instructions regarding the treatment of Israelite servants. Leviticus 25:39-43 states:

"If your brother among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, you must not force him into slave labor. Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers. Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves. You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God."

This passage underscores the principle that Israelites, being God's chosen people, were not to be subjected to harsh or rigorous treatment. Instead, they were to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents, with the understanding that their servitude was not permanent but limited until the Year of Jubilee, a time of liberation and restoration.

The Year of Jubilee

The Year of Jubilee, occurring every 50th year, was a significant aspect of Israelite society, designed to prevent the permanent enslavement of individuals and ensure the restoration of property and freedom. During this year, all Israelite servants were to be released, and any land sold was to be returned to its original family. This practice reinforced the idea that the Israelites were ultimately servants of God, not of one another, and that their freedom was a reflection of their covenant relationship with Him.

Fear of God as a Guiding Principle

The directive to "fear your God" in Leviticus 25:43 serves as a moral and spiritual guideline for the treatment of servants. This fear, or reverence, for God was intended to remind the Israelites of their own deliverance from slavery in Egypt and to instill a sense of compassion and justice in their dealings with others. The fear of God was to be a deterrent against the abuse of power and a reminder of the divine mandate to love one's neighbor as oneself.

Exodus and Deuteronomy on Servitude

Additional instructions regarding the treatment of servants can be found in Exodus 21:2-6 and Deuteronomy 15:12-15. These passages reiterate the temporary nature of servitude among the Israelites and emphasize the importance of releasing servants with generosity and kindness. Deuteronomy 15:12-15 states:

"If your fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free. And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today."

This passage highlights the expectation of generosity and the moral obligation to remember the Israelites' own history of redemption from slavery, which serves as a foundation for their ethical treatment of servants.

Conclusion

The biblical instructions regarding the treatment of Israelite servants reflect a broader theological and ethical framework that values human dignity, freedom, and the compassionate exercise of authority. These principles are rooted in the Israelites' identity as God's redeemed people and their covenantal relationship with Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 25:39,40,46
And if your brother that dwells by you be waxen poor, and be sold to you; you shall not compel him to serve as a bondservant:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Memoir of John Bunyan
... Satan, by one of his own slaves, wounded a conscience ... father"'Whether we were of
the Israelites or no? ... greatly blessed, because they were the servants, as I ...
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