In part one, I explained some crucial distinctions as to what the word “slavery” means and why this is important when discussing slavery in the Bible. In this post, I take on a difficult passage. Here’s the big question:

What would you do if an atheist quoted you this passage?

Exodus 21:1-7

1 Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them. 2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. 3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s and he shall go out alone. 5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for life. 7 When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.

Then, they might object:

• For a man to keep his wife and children he had to stay a slave! That’s not fair!
• Look, the women slaves were not allowed freedom like male slaves were! Terrible!

Are you ready to respond? If not, this post is for you.

Some Background

Some Christians tremble when they read hard sayings in the Bible. However, we can trust in Christ who vouched that God’s Word has not been broken (John 10:35). The Apostle Paul also reminds us that all scripture is inspired (2 Tim 3:16). So, whatever God wanted to include in His revelation is asserted by the Holy Spirit (i.e. “God-breathed”) and without error.

How we have come to Trust God and His Word can vary from person to person:

• Philosophical or historical arguments convince some.
• Others have had deep, personal experiences with God (or Jesus in particular).
• Others trust the testimony of what reasonable men have said about God.

Christian philosopher Stephen T. Davis puts it this way in his book Rational Faith, “But by far the most important reason why I believe in God is this: I have had experiences in my life that I naturally find myself interpreting in terms of the presence of God. I have experienced what I take to be God’s protection, God’s guidance, God’s challenges, and God’s mercy.“

Catholic Christian philosopher Edward Feser describes being moved to see the arguments from natural theology are correct (at least a handful of them, which he defends here).

But coming to faith does not obliterate all doubts. Difficulties in Scripture, Church history, or the practices of Churchmen can pose cases for doubt in the faithful. One good response to doubt is to seek genuine answers. Matt Nelson explains this well.

This second post on biblical slavery aims to give answers to a difficult question. Let’s return to the hard passage.

Back to the Passage

Exodus 21:1-7

1 Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them. 2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. 3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s and he shall go out alone. 5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for life. 7 When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.

Two Preliminary Points

Anyone attempting to answer attacks like these would greatly benefit from Trent Horn’s book Hard Sayings, which devotes two detailed chapters to the slavery question. In my response here, I am drawing largely from his work.

In Exodus 21:16, it explains that kidnapping and selling into slavery is punishable by death. This helps distinguish Biblical slavery from the African American slave trade and slavery in the antebellum south. Masters could not acquire slaves through kidnapping.

Next, we need to remember this big point. Trent Horn labels this rule #15 for dealing with hard sayings in Scripture: Just because the Bible regulates it, doesn’t mean the Bible recommends it. In a way similar to how Moses allowed divorce yet regulated it, the Bible allows slavery (mostly indentured servitude) and regulates it. Horn shows how the Biblical laws related to slavery are much more humane and respect the dignity of persons more than any culture of the Ancient near East (they all practiced slavery in some form). So, Horn argues, the Bible takes a gradual approach to the slavery question, first regulating it and making it more humane, and second recommending that Christian slave owners free their slaves (cf. Philemon).

Nonetheless, there are many places where the Bible, even in the New Testament, exhorts slaves to obey their masters. Presumably, attempting an uprising or fostering hate in their hearts against their masters would not be best for the slaves. The most important thing in life is serving God, and slaves should focus on that despite their poor lot in life. In Heaven, there will be no more slavery and all will rest in God.

Specifics on this Passage

First, when tackling the Old Testament, it’s definitely important to consult commentaries, since most of us are not that familiar with the cultural practices and other facts of ancient history. A good Catholic Bible commentary available for free online is this one. I draw from that resource and Horn in the following remarks.

“If his master gives him a wife…” (v.4)

We can understand this as one of the master’s own daughters, or perhaps another woman kept as the master’s concubine. While this sounds unpalatable to us, in many cases it can be seen as doing what is best for the women/children. The master owns land and presumably can provide sustenance for himself and all of his family and slaves. If the wife and children went out free with the slave, they might be facing very harsh poverty or a new, unknown master. Their current master ensures their care and comfort.

“When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.”

It was always expected that the daughter should become the wife of the purchaser, which is why she would not go out as the male slaves do. If you read verses 8-11, it explains the conditions for which she would go free. Namely, if the master does not marry her and does not provide her a marriage.

An alternative interpretation mentioned in the commentary is that “she shall not go out as the male slaves do” means she shall not go out to work in the fields (or have the same type of labor requirements).

Of course, this analysis does not answer every question, but it provides an interpretation to counter the atheist using this passage against you.

Study these points so you can remember them in conversation.