War and Exemption God’s Law provided exemptions from going to war. Deuteronomy 20:1-9 “‘When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up ...
The Priority of the Home In Israel the needs of the family came before the needs of the nation. Deuteronomy 24:5 “‘When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be ...
Runaways Runaway slaves were considered to be free men. Deuteronomy 23:15-16 “‘You shall not give up to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you. He shall dwell with you, in your midst, in the place that he shall choose within one of your towns, wherever it suits him. ...
An Option for the Poor Slavery in ancient Israel could be a way of escaping poverty. Leviticus 25:47-55 “If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger’s clan, then ...
Rights of Slaves Slaves did not cease to be human beings under the Law of God. Exodus 21:26, 27 “When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. If he knocks out the tooth of his ...
Young Women as Slaves This is difficult to understand, but we have to think back to the days of ancient Israel. Exodus 21:7-11 “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has designated her ...
Indentured Servants Indentured servitude has its roots in the Law of God. Exodus 21:2-6 “When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his ...
Slavery Slavery was allowed in the beginning, but carefully regulated. Leviticus 25:44-46 “As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans ...
Rest for the Land Even the earth needs a Sabbath, as farmers today understand. Exodus 23:10, 11 “For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they ...
The Third-Year Tithe Communities are responsible to care for their own poor. Deuteronomy 14:28, 29 “‘At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance ...