Ancient Judaism and Slavery

[kojikun]

Somewhere he a quote from the bible was posted. It was from the old testament and said something along the lines of "Jews should enslave all they please to".

Now, is it just me or is the whole Exodus thing about ESCAPING slavery? Why the hell would the Jews believe they had the right to enslave anyone they wanted?

I have a feeling this minor thing is the root of all of modern Judeo-Christian hypocricy and evil, the origin of the whole "we're the righteous, whatever we say goes" mindset.

[The Dark]

Slavery is allowed within limits in the Old Testament. The Law discusses it in Deuteronomy 15:12-18.

"If a member of your community, whether a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and works for you six years, in the seventh year you shall set that person free...you shall not send him out empty-handed. Provide liberally out of your flock, your threshing floor, and your wine press..."

The words "Hebrew" comes from hebiru, which is a term for any displaced person or servant. Leviticus 25:39-41 sums this up even better:

"If any who are dependent upon you become so impoverished that they sell themselves to you, you shall not make them serve as slaves. They shall remain with you as hired or bound laborers. They shall serve with you until the year of the jubille. Then they and their children with them shall be free from your authority; they shall go back to their own family and return to their ancestral property."

I cannot find the verse you mentioned, though it may be because I am spending about ten minutes on this. If you can find that quote again, I would gladly ask my OT professor about it.

[lgot]

Slavery was a fair commum happening back them. The hebrews are slave, they have slave, etc. It was not a moral problem like today is, hence they have to do something with the other tribes they defeated. There is much worse things the bible tells the hebrews to do to their enemies than slavery - even if in an simple way, they are just doing what a comunity back them would do.

And you ask about the rights...The right is called strength. The one that have it, own. If you mean our humans rights or this stuff, remember that is a very recent way of thinking of our societies.

[The Yosemite Bear]

as for other Barbarism of the Anchient Jews let's not forget:

"Slay all the lords of Midian be they man or beast, but spare their women for your selves."