Bible on Slavery (Part 3): Leviticus 25:44-46

Many believers will overlook the verses which are pro-slavery because of the ones that show their god was against the enslavement of the Jewish people by the Egyptians. However if these people were more knowledgeable about their own book (or not feigning ignorance) they would know/admit that was not the intended message of the writers. The quote being discussed here is found in the book of Leviticus.

The people of Israel are the LORD's slaves, and he brought them out of Egypt; they must not be sold into slavery. Do not treat them harshly, but obey your God. If you need slaves, you may buy them from the nations around you. You may also buy the children of the foreigners who are living among you. Such children born in your land may become your property, and you may leave them as an inheritance to your children, whom they must serve as long as they live. But you must not treat any Israelites harshly. - Leviticus 25:42-46

The primary message here is straight forward, it is only wrong for "the people of Israel" to be slaves. The Bible is by no means anti-slavery — only against the enslavement of "God's people". How convenient for them. I feel these verses knock down any argument which claim the Bible is anti-slavery.The Jewish people being enslaved by the Egyptians, and God opposing it, had nothing to do with opposing the institution of slavery (except for that one convenient case).

These verses do not only refute a poor argument, they also give insight into the backwards perspective the writers possessed. Starting off: "You may also buy the children of the foreigners who are living among you". In this case the Jewish people cannot be enslaved, but foreigners can. What does this show? It shows the writers viewed people that were different then them as lowly (pure bigotry). "Such children born in your land may become your property, and you may leave them as an inheritance to your children, whom they must serve as long as they live". The writers look to establish the concept of slaves as being only property — to be handed down. It's wonderful the writers included this bit: "whom they must serve as long as they live" — how awful would it be to have to continue serving after death? Also, realistically, how much work can a corpse do? It's good to know the writers had this all thought out.