[apillar]

I think a lot of the issue is, the Bible, (especially the old Testament) doesn't really differentiate between slavery, indentured servitude, and voluntary servitude. Back in those days under the law someone could take another person as a "slave" for an unpaid debt, but it wasn't slavery as we think of it today as they could only be kept in servitude until the debt was paid or 7 years whichever came first. Then there was other circumstances where if a servant didn't want to be freed after that time period they could remain, but they were to be treated as a quasi member of the household.

So I think looking at the Bible for commentary on slavery is like comparing apples to oranges because the Jews simply did not practice slavery as we think of it today.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Back in those days under the law someone could take another person as a “slave” for an unpaid debt, but it wasn’t slavery as we think of it today as they could only be kept in servitude until the debt was paid or 7 years whichever came first.

Let’s take the case of Hagar the servant of Abraham and Sarah for instance... she was told to have sexual relations with Abraham to sire a child ( Ishmael ) by Sarah. Did she have a choice in the matter? What if she said no?

Could someone who was in servitude for say, 7 years be forced to do what Hagar was told to do?