The treatment of slaves (Exodus 21: 1-11)

Slavery, in various forms, was widespread throughout the nations of the ancient Middle East and was accepted as part of the social structure of the time. Verses 5 and 6 indicate that one Israelite could choose to be the slave of another, and verse 7 indicates that a father could sell his daughter to be a slave, specifically to become a concubine. Severe poverty could put a person into a situation where it was preferable to accept slavery in the household of a merciful master than to struggle to support oneself. This passage accepts the fact of slavery in the Israelite community but commands merciful attitudes to slaves. The reason is not stated explicitly but it is obvious that it is connected with the mercy shown by God to the Israelites in their deliverance from Egyptian slavery. A male slave was to be freed, if he so wished, after six years and without any 'redemption' payment. A female slave in a position of concubinage was to be treated with justice within the social structures of the time. If the man who intended to make her his concubine did not like her, she had to be sold back to her father and not merely rejected. The concubine of a man's son had to be treated with respect, as a daughter-in-law. A man with more than one concubine had to treat each one justly. Men who ignored the rights of concubines were to be forced (by the community) to free them. We should note that in this passage the rights of the lowliest group within Israelite society were to be upheld; the Hebrew slave was still one of the chosen people with whom God had made his covenant. ,-



age.