The Bible is in part a historical book, unfortunately the reality of human history is that slavery was an integral part of the social, economic, and institutional life of the ancient Middle East. The Bible writers refer to it repeatedly as a fact of life but the Bible doesn't endorse these things, on the contrary,it teaches principles which, had they been put into practice, would have led to slavery's abolition from society long ago. Unfortuantely, some slavery still exists in the world today and many women are still treated poorly(especially in the Middle East) because these principles are not followed.Also,here's something from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible on these verses;Exo 21:12-21 - God, who by his providence gives and maintains life, by his law protects it. A wilful murderer shall be taken even from God's altar... Through poverty the Israelites sometimes sold themselves or their children; magistrates sold some persons for their crimes, and creditors were in some cases allowed to sell their debtors who could not pay. But “man-stealing,” the object of which is to force another into slavery, is ranked in the New Testament with the greatest crimes. Care is here taken, that satisfaction be made for hurt done to a person, though death do not follow. The gospel teaches masters to forbear, and to moderate threatenings, Eph_6:9, considering with Job, What shall I do, when God riseth up? Job_31:13, Job_31:14.In Christ,Ron
