Analysis Of The Old Testament Law

The Old Testament Law is a unique set of ethics, ensuring the care of those commonly marginalized by a society by including laws that ensure their protection. However, despite these provisions, the Old Testament permits slavery, which for modern readers, protecting an individual’s dignity and legal slavery cannot coexist. Exodus 21 includes instruction on how to treat slaves, a standard radically different from any other in history. Old Testament Law permits slavery, while protecting the dignity of slaves, however, modern slavery, specifically sex trafficking, violates all of the laws set in place throughout the Old Testament; objectifying individuals and stripping away their God-given dignity. This paper will compare the differences between

On their release, their masters were to set them up for financial success. “The covenant regulations” on slavery do not refer so much to lowly servants, but rather, to “people of unequal status, but equal priesthood.” Though Israelite slaves did not hold the same status in society as their masters, the covenant regulations instructed that they be treated with the same dignity. In some cases slavery, or servitude was entered as a means to pay back a debt, or become established as an alien living within the bounds of Israel. Hebrew slaves were Israelites who sold themselves into slavery in order to pay the debt. Though foreign slaves were not regarded with the same standards of care as a Hebrew slave they were still protected by the Law. In a sense, Biblical slavery was permitted and regulated as a means by which to make provisions and care for the most vulnerable in society. The Mosaic Law puts in place provisions not just for the servant, but for all those within the bounds of the covenant to be cared for. In the interactions between master and slave, the master was “to be merciful and pursue justice, not to make his slaves carry a heavy yoke, or cause them distress.” Essentially, slaves were to be treated with the same care and respect as other members of the household. Job, a man of status

“There are identified risk factors that make someone more vulnerable to victimization, including negative family dynamics, lower intellectual functioning, poor school success, inadequate social skills, and histories of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and neglect.” (Hammond, 2014, pg. 168) Many people are coerced to enter the trade, or the simple need to survive; in the ancient Near East, …Many people enter the trade based of coercion, or the need to survive, in the ancient near east, slavery was an institution that enabled people to repay a debt and