#74 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – January 19, 2003 a.m.

THE ROLE OF SLAVERY IN THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD SYSTEM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT -- II

This material continues the survey of the role of slavery in the commerce and industry of the world system as described in the Old Testament. Slavery was a common part of the world system and involved the subordination of one human being to another human being either voluntarily or involuntarily. The Mosaic Law established some guidelines for the slavery among the Israelites. There was a double standard for Israelite slaves and Gentile slaves. In some ways this distinguished Israel from the other nations. While other nations in antiquity had laws concerning slavery, they were generally less righteous and less stringent than the Mosaic Law. There is substantial revelation concerning the regulation of slavery indicating that it was a very important part of the economy of the nation of Israel.

The concepts of slavery or service are many in the Old Testament. I. gives several uses of the word ahvad and its derivatives in the Old Testament. II. Examines some of the information concerning how slaves were acquired in Israelite society: by purchase, by birth (offspring of slaves), as a payment for debt, payment for theft by an indigent thief, by capture in war or as a gift from one person to another. Passages of Scripture are included in this section.

III. surveys the Mosaic Law concerning slavery and its regulation. It is clear that God approved slavery within His restrictive guidelines. He limited the extent to which an Israelite could serve his brother. Gentile slaves could be owned perpetually. The key passages in the Law concerning slavery are Ex. 21:1-11; Lev. 25:54 and Deut. 15:12-18. It is most interesting that Exodus 21:1-11 immediately follows the Ten Commandments in the Book of the Covenant in the Law. It fits in between the "commandments" and the punishments for the violation of specific individual commandments. It is clear that slavery was an important issue at the very beginning of the administration of the dispensation of law. III. C. breaks out the elements of the Law that dealt with slavery and involves the rights of owners and slaves as well as fathers over daughters. III. D. shows the double standard concerning Gentile slaves. Purchased slaves generally came from the Gentile nations. Even the children of sojourners in the land of Israel could be purchased as slaves. Gentile slaves became perpetual hereditary family slaves with all of their progeny belonging to their master. There is an interesting general principle concerning slavery mentioned in Proverbs 22:7: "A rich one proceeds to rule over poor ones, one who is borrowing is a slave to the man causing to borrow (i. e. the lender) [my translation]." This concept certainly would make many Christians slaves because of their management of money and their indebtedness.

Israel used her slaves in her economy in a similar way to the Gentiles. They made the economy work with its commerce and industry. Regulations prevented major abuse. An example of this is the law that required the death penalty for a owner who killed his slave who died on the spot. The double standard demonstrated a divinely mandated prejudice in the matter of slavery. Old Testament slavery in the Law was righteous in its regulation. This may be contrasted to some of the abuses permitted by the Gentiles outside Israel in the world system. The Old Testament generally ignores the slave practices of the Gentiles except as Jehovah used the Gentiles and slavery as a punishment of Israel.

Again let me remind you that the Forum is coming in April. The dates of the Theological Forum on Contemporary Issues are April 23-25, 2003. This is the week after Easter. It will again be held at Family Baptist Church in Tigard, Oregon. This is a great opportunity for some real biblical fellowship. I will be sending an announcement out in the next couple of weeks. God has used this over many years and the Forum seems to get better every year.

God is with you (if you're a Christian)! Isn't it grand to be a Christian! {Phil Kerr wrote a song by that title.}

Blessed as an anointed one,

DKS

#74 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – January 19, 2003 a.m.

THE ROLE OF SLAVERY IN THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD SYSTEM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT -- II

1 John 2:15

Proposition: To examine the role of slavery in the commerce and industry of the world system as is evidenced in the revelation of the Old Testament. Jehovah gave specific regulations to Israel concerning slavery. These were inequitable in that the Hebrew slave had more rights and privileges than a Gentile slave in Israel.

Introduction

A. The Common Ideas in the Use of the Hebrew Root

1. Subordination

2. Service (Real or Potential)

B. The Imposition of Slavery for Use by Industry and Commerce in the World System

1. From Want

2. From War

C. The Identification of the Resources for Slavery in the Old Testament

1. Voluntary

2. Involuntary (xamples: from war or in payment for theft by indigent)

D. The Isolation of Israel from the Concepts of Slavery from the World System

1. The Idea That Israel Bowed to the Pressure of Middle Eastern Society

2. The Incorporation of Laws Concerning Israel's Possession of Slaves

a. Israelite Slaves Had One Set of Regulations

b. Gentile Slavery Was Governed by a Different Set of Standards

c. The Laws Prohibited the Abuse of Any Slaves

TRANS: The Hebrew root db;[' (avad) is used in several ways in the Hebrew Bible indicating subservience or subordination to another. Slavery to a human owner is only a small part of the significance of the use of the word in the text.

I. THE REALMS OF SERVITUDE DESCRIBED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT – THE LEVELS OF SUBORDINATION EVIDENT IN THE HEBREW BIBLE – THE

ACCEPTANCE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE AUTHORITY OF ANOTHER BY THE ONE WHO SERVES

A. Service to Deity

1. To Jehovah by Israel – Theocracy Ideal

a. In the Tabernacle – Ex. 36:1, 3, 5; Num. 3:7, 8 (Num. 3, 4, 7, 8, 18, 28)

b. In the Temple – 1 Chron. 6:32, 48; 9:13, 19, 28; 23:24-27; 28:13-21; 2 Chron.

8:14; 31:2, 16, 21

c. As a Nation – Josh. 24:14, 15; 1 Sam. 7:3; 2 Chron. 30:8

d. As a Pious Israelite – Isa. 20:3

2. To Other Gods – World System – Deut. 7:16; Judg. 3:6, 7

B. Service to a King – Theocratic Monarchy or World System

1. Solomon – 1 Ki. 12:4

2. Rehoboam – 1 Ki. 12:10

C. Government Service to a King – Theocratic Monarchy or World System

1. As an Officer in Affairs of State – 1 Chron. 26:30

2. As a Member of the Military – Ezek. 29:18

D. Service to Another Nation – World System

1. Egypt – Deut. 26:6 (cf. Ex. 1-3)

2. Other Nations – cf. Cycles of Sin in Judges 3:8, 14; 4:2; 6:1; 10:7, 8; 13:1

E. Service to a Human Master or Owner – Ex. 21:1-12; Lev. 25:39-55

TRANS: The practice of slavery in the Old Testament whether by Israel or other nations gives us revelation concerning how human beings became slaves. This was true in the world system from early antiquity in order to support its commerce and industry.

II. THE RUDIMENTS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF SLAVES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT – THE LIST OD MECHANISMS BY WHICH SLAVES WERE ACQUIRED – THE ACQUISITION OF SLAVES AS PRESENTED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

A. By Purchase or Sale

1. Buy – hn"q' (qahnah) – Ex. 21:2; Lev. 25:44, 45; Eccl. 2:7

2. Sell – rk;m' (mahcar) – Ex. 21:7; Lev. 25:39, 42, 47-50

3. As a Curse for the Law -- rk;m' (mahcar) – Deut. 28:68

B. By Birth from Slaves Already Owned – Ex. 21:4

Therefore Hereditary – Ezra. 2:55, 58, 65; Neh. 7:57, 60 (cf. Eccl. 2:7)

C. As a Payment of Debt Owed by One Enslaved

1. A Fellow Israelite Who Is Poor – Lev. 25:39

2. An Israelite to a Wealthy Sojourner – Lev. 25:47

D. As a Payment for Theft That the Perpetrator Could Not Repay with its Penalty – Ex. 22:2

E. By Capture in War

1. Num. 31:9

2. 2 Ki. 5:2, 26

3. Daniel 1

F. As a Gift

1. Gen. 20:14

2. Gen. 29:24, 29

TRANS: The Mosaic Law accepts slavery as a legitimate practice but put restraints on how the slave system could work in Israel. There are some very clear restrictions and guidelines concerning both Hebrew slaves and the slaves taken from the Gentiles that distinguish the slavery of Israel from that of the Gentiles.

III. THE REGULATIONS OF THE MOSAIC LAW CONCERNING OWNERSHIP AND TRATMENT OF SLAVES – THE LIMITS PLACED ON ISRAELITES CONCERNING SLAVES – THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE POSSESSION OF SLAVES UNDER THE MOSAIC LAW DISTINGUISHES ISRAEL FROM THE SLAVERY OF THE WORLD SYSTEM

A. The Views Concerning Slavery in the Old Testament

1. View #1: God Opposed Any Slavery of Any Kind

2. View #2: God Regulated Slavery Rather Than Abolish It

a. Because Israel Could Not Be a Nation in the Region Without Encountering

Slavery

b. God Knew That Israel Would Win Wars and Capture Enemies

c. Slavery Was Better Than Killing Captives

3. View #3: God Permitted Slavery Knowing That Israel Would Have Slaves Anyway

4. View #4: God Approved Slavery Within His Guidelines

a. As an Economic Mechanism for the Poor

b. As an Economic Mechanism to Maintain and Expand an Economy

c. As an Economic National Penalty for Violation of the Law

B. The Sources of Divine Regulation in the Mosaic Law

1. Core Passages: Ex. 21:1-11; Lev. 25:54; Deut. 15:12-18

2. The Prominence in the Book of the Covenant

C. The Guidelines of the Law for Hebrew Slaves of Israelites

1. A Purchased Hebrew Slave Was to Be Freed in the Seventh Year – Ex. 21:2; Deut.

15:12

a. Leaves in Marital Condition in Which He Entered – Ex. 21:3, 4

b. Can Voluntarily Become a Permanent Slave – Ex. 21:5, 6

2. A Hebrew Father Could Sell His Daughter – Ex. 21:7

a. Unsatisfactory to Master, He Will Cause Her to Be Redeemed – Ex. 21:8

b. Cannot Be Sold to Foreigners

c. Betrothed to Son Treated with Rights of Daughters – Ex. 21:9

d. Takes Another Female, He Is Not to Diminish Her Food, Clothing and Marital

Rights – 21:10

e. Failure to Obey These Things Brings Freedom for Nothing – 21:11

3. A Hebrew Poor Man Could Sell Himself Into Slavery – Lev. 25:39

a. To Be Treated as a Hired Servant or a Sojourner – Lev. 25:39, 40

b. Serve to the Year of Jubilee and then Leave – Lev. 25:40-42

c. Not to Dominate with Harshness – Lev. 25:43

d. A Hebrew Could Sell Himself to a Gentile Sojourner in the Land – Lev. 25:47

(1) He Can Be Redeemed – 25:47-49

(2) He Is Released in the Year of Jubilee – 25:54

4. When a Hebrew Slave Is Released, Provision Was to Be Made for Him After His

Departure – Deut. 15:13-18

5. The Only Cause in the Torah for Selling a Hebrew Into Slavery Without His Consent

Is His Inability to Restore Stolen Goods – Ex. 22:2

a. Sons of an Insolvent Deceased Debtor Could Be Sold to Pay the Father's Debts – 2

Ki. 4:1-7

b. Children Could Be Sold to Appease Creditors – Isa. 50:1

D. The Guidelines of the Law for Gentile Slaves of Israelites

1. Purchased Slaves Generally Came from the Nations (Gentiles) – Lev. 25:44

2. Children of Sojourners Can Be Purchased as Possessions – Lev. 25:45

3. Gentile Slaves Can Be Perpetual Hereditary Family Slaves – Lev. 25:46

E. The General Principle in a Law Environment – Prov. 22:7

TRANS: The Mosaic Law was prejudiced in matters related to slavery. It established a double standard for Israelite slaves and for Gentile slaves. There are interesting implications concerning how Israel's system of slavery compared to the slavery of the Gentile world system. The Law made the system different and provided a righteous system for slavery.

Conclusion

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119