4. Sometimes captives taken in war (Deu_20:14; 2Ki_5:2).
5. Strangers, under certain restrictions (Lev_25:45).
6. Foreigners, might be purchased (Lev_25:44).
7. Debtors, liable to be sold (2Ki_4:1; Neh_5:4-5; Mat_18:25).
8. Thieves were sold (Exo_22:3).
9. Israelites to be kindly treated (Lev_25:39-40; Lev_25:46), and to be liberated after six years (Exo_21:2; Deu_15:12); or if they refused to be free, then (Exo_21:5-6; Deu_15:16-17), when sold to foreigners might be redeemed (Lev_25:47-55), or be free at the jubilee (Lev_25:10; Lev_25:40-41; Lev_25:54), but could not demand wife and child procured during bondage (Exo_21:3-4); were to be furnished liberally on regaining liberty (Deu_15:13-14).
10. Foreign slaves to rest on Sabbath (Exo_20:10), to share in national rejoicing (Deu_12:18; Deu_16:11; Deu_16:14).
11. If ill-treated by masters, to be set free (Exo_21:26-27).
1. The nature of slavery as practised by the heathen world (the treatment of Israelites by Egyptians).
2. The restraint laid upon these Israelites in their conduct to foreign bondsmen. But for these laws how might these people--who had been slaves of foreigners themselves--have treated foreigners when in their turn they became masters?
3. The relation of Israelitish slaves to Israelitish masters, with their privileges (social and religious), and certain freedom.
4. The causes for which alone they might become slaves.
5. Especially consider that while these laws ameliorated the condition Of slavery as it then existed--eliminating the elements of cruelty, &c., leaving, in fact, nothing of bondage but the name--they paved the way, by the training of justice and mercy, for the total extinction of slavery.
6. Christianity in spirit, precept, and practice against slavery.
(1) Asserts that there is no bond or free, but that all are one in Christ.
(2) Teaches the fraternity of the race. “God hath made of one blood,” &c. “All we are brethren.”
(3) Strikingly illustrates this by the case of a runaway slave--Onesimus--whom Paul sent back to his master, whom in some way he had wronged, not as a slave, but as a brother beloved (Philemon). Learn:
1. No warrant for modern slavery in the Word of God (Isa_58:6).
2. Spiritual slavery the worst form (2Ti_2:26).
3. This may be the state of men who arepolitically free (Joh_8:34; 2Pe_2:19).
4. Jesus the great Emancipator (Joh_8:32-36; Rom_6:18-22; Gal_5:1; 1Pe_2:16). (J. C. Gray.)
