Slavery

Beginning in Genesis we read that God created mankind in the image of God - this is not concurrent with anything else we read in ancient texts. Moses was writing to show how YHWH was different from all other gods. That all men and women are created equal.

When we hear the word slavery, we tend to think of the most recent iteration of it, but it has taken on many forms over the millennia

Chattel slavery

Exodus 21:2 ESV

When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.

Exodus 21:16 ESV

“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.

OT - ebed

800 times in OT

Slave or servant or bondservant. The nature of the relationship always clear in the text

David 1 Sam 28

Hagar Gen 16 - nothing tells us she’s anything more than a servant, never forced to do anything against her will

Not prescribed but allowed

Everything in the law is not an approval but an allowance

Slavery is a clear example of the brokenness