In the Old Testament was it okay to have slaves?

Answer 1

Slavery was different to what we associate with the word in modern times. The Bible generally accepted slavery as it was in that day, but not if it was associated with the sinful aspects that sometimes went along with it or if it abused people. The Bible instructed on how to properly treat slaves. The Bible condemns slavery such as is common in modern times, which enslaves people based on race and sinful practices. Slavery in the Bible times was primarily for the relief of economic hardship and usually instigated by the slave themselves. It was not OK to have slaves in the sense in which we have slaves today and have had over the past few centuries.

Answer 2

Slavery is a denial of human rights and was practised by the ancient Israelites and Jews, as much as by other nations of that time and indeed in more recent times. The Old Testament sets out some rules for treatment of Israelite slaves, even allowing for their manumission, but makes it clear that any gentile slaves could be denied even those limited rights. Apart from this, the Old Testament makes it clear that slavery was entirely acceptable.