Question:  Dear Greg,

            In Leviticus 25:39-46 God seems to be advocating buying and selling slaves.  Is this forced labor or were these slaves paid wages?

            Darren

Answer:  Dear Darren,

            There are several reasons for the existence of slaves in the old covenant:

1.      By capture—as a prisoner or prize of war

2.      By purchase—foreign slaves were purchased by Hebrews

3.      By birth

4.      As a restitution for crime

5.      As restitution for a debt (sometimes this amounted to self-slavery, the choice of one who sold himself into slavery to satisfy a debt). 

            Some of these categories are evident in the passage you cite.

            The treatment of slaves varied widely, according to biblical and extra-biblical records.  One slave became the second most powerful ruler in Egypt (Joseph).

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht