Hey,
I figured I just throw my 2 cents in as it were since this is a discussion board. E F Grant seems to have a handle on it, at least I understand it in that same manner. Racial slavery and biblical slavery aren't necessarilly the same things, and hey, what were the Jews to do? Locking up poor people and prisoners of war wasn't really as feasable and logical as using them in forced labor. Even today America uses prisoners to clean up the highways and do other such public services. It fits with the whole idea suggested in the New Testament by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:10. And if I may add, I recall no rebukes on Old Testament persons like the Patriarchs, David and Solomon (and what about them concubines <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />) and Paul doesn't really rebuke or correct Philemon when he an epistle to him.

Oh, and it's interesting that Paul should use the word Bondservant (depends on translation but that's it in Greek) to describe himself when he wrote Romans, Philippians, and Titus. And then to use the word again twice in Philemon while also calling himself a prisoner, I'm guessing Paul wasn't too put off by this concept. And if you don't like it, well, God had a law concerning it and made numerous comments about your manservants and your maidservants so read Exodus and Leviticus.

No offence meant to anyone though.

Anyway, that's my two cents, at least for now.

-Brother Luke