Jews and Slavery--rebuttal to Alan Segal

Submitted by Leah (United States), Aug 29, 2006 at 16:53

Yes, although slaves were allowed by the Hebrew Bible to be beaten so severely that they were disabled for up to two days, "for he is your money [i.e., property]." Additionally, Abraham's and Jacob's use of Hagar and those other maids (Abraham had sex with her, then refused to marry her, cast her and her son out, and allowed Sarah to be mean to her; Jacob didn't even allow the mothers of his children to name them, or, it seems, raise them) does not speak well of Jewish slavery.

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