Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.
You may also buy slaves from the foreigners living among you and from their families who were born in your land, and they will become your property.
This verse allowed ancient Israelites to purchase slaves from foreign residents and their families living in Israel.
📚 Historical Context
This passage is part of the Holiness Code in Leviticus, written during a time when slavery was a common economic institution throughout the ancient Near East. Unlike fellow Israelites who were protected from permanent slavery, foreigners living in Israel could be bought as permanent slaves. These laws were given as Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land and establish their society according to God's instructions.
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