The topic of slavery in the Old Testament is a touchy one. No one wants to think that their Bible condones an activity that is considered so reprehensible today. Many people will argue that slavery in the OT is “not so bad,” and is really a lot like having a job today.

In this series, Dr Bowen of Johns Hopkins University examines the primary passages that deal with slavery in the Old Testament, including those about which there is general scholarly consensus, as well as those that are more debated. In the end, we hope to clear up some of the misconceptions about slavery in the Hebrew Bible.”

Secondary literature cited in the video:

• Gregory Chirichigno 2009 Debt-Slavery in Israel and the Ancient Near East (https://tinyurl.com/y9umjata)
• Raymond Westbrook (ed.) 2003 A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law (2 vols) [2017 edition available] (https://tinyurl.com/y8n6j3lh)
• Wells, et al (eds.) 2009 Law from the Tigris to the Tiber: The Writings of Raymond Westbrook (2 vols.) (https://tinyurl.com/yd34jedv)
• Martha Roth (1997) Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor, 2nd Edition (https://tinyurl.com/yahod6bg)

Dr. Josh Bowen holds a Ph.D. in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, (Assyriology major with a minor in Hebrew Bible), an M.A. in Ancient Near Eastern Studies (both from The Johns Hopkins University), and a Th.M. in Old Testament Studies (Capital Bible Seminary). A former Pastor, now an academic, Dr Bowen has extensive experience teaching Biblical Hebrew.