Slavery is a topic that gets under peoples skin. Some get really emotional about it to the point of tears, while others reach their peak of anger. The period of slavery as we were taught in school was not a pretty one. It was one of pain, oppression, restriction, violence, abuse, injustice, and even death.
Millions of individuals died during the slavery period. Slavery, however, existed long before the period we were taught in schools, all the way back to the days spoken about in the Bible.
The Hebrews, the set of people God led across the Red Sea, were once slaves in Egypt. When God led them into the desert, He gave them a set of rules to help keep them organized. Some of these rules pertain to how slaves are to be treated. Even though when God brought them out of Egypt they became free individuals, they themselves were now able to acquire and own slaves. As with all topics that pertain to slavery, some of these rules and or laws were hard to swallow.
Nevertheless, these laws can be found in the Bible.
“If you buy a slave (Hebrew), if he came alone, he will leave alone. If he was married, his wife will leave with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children belong to his master; he will leave alone. But if the slave says: “I love my wife, my master and my children, I will not go free”, his master shall bring him to God; he will take him to the door or the doorpost, then his master will pierce his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him for life” (Exodus 21:3-6).
“When a man strikes his slave or his servant with a rod and he man dies at his hands, he shall be punished. But if the slave survives for a day or two, he will not be penalized since the slave is his property” (Exodus 21:20-21).
This is not meant to anger anyone. I am just making a connection in our historical and biblical past.
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