Untitled - African American History

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF SLAVERY.
Nor was it allowed, among the Jews, for a stranger to
possess the land. Hence, the argument that the bondage
of these was determined by the year of Jubilee, fails, for
they had no " possession" to which they could return.
Their descendants also were slaves, following the condition
of the mother. Thus Solomon says, "I got me
servants and maidens, and had servants born in my
house." 1
The value of slaves doubtless varied with their qualities
and other circumstances. In the event of a slave
being killed by a vicious ox, the price was fixed by the
at 30 shekels. 3
law, without regard to the circumstances,
In the case of releasing a person from a vow, a more
discriminating scale of value was affixed, which we may
safely take as the customary value of the times. A
child under a month was valued at nothing. From 1
month to 5 years, males were valued at 5 shekels, females
at 3. From 5 years to 20, males were valued at 20 she-
kels, females at 10. From 20 to 60 years, males at 50
shekels, females at 30. Upwards of 60 years, males at
15 shekels, females at 10. 3
There were public slaves as well as private, among the
Jews. These were attached to the sanctuary, and performed
the menial labors for the priests and Levites. 4
Thus the Gibeonites, for their deceit, were condemned
to be "hewers of wood and drawers of water." 5 Their
posterity were called nethinims (meaning presented as
gifts), and are mentioned on several occasions. 6 Samuel
was a public servant, attached to the sanctuary, being so
devoted from his mother's womb. 7
Manumission was allowed among the Jews. The
1 Eccles. 2 : 7. See also Gen. 17 : 13,23 ; 15 : 3 ; 14 : 14 ; Ex. 23 : 12 j
Psalm 86 : 16.
2 Ex. 21 : 32.
3 Lev. 27 : 1-8 ; Michaelis's Comm. vol. ii, art. 124 ; see also Hosea 3 : 2.
4 Lev. 31 : 40, 47 j Michaelis's Comm. vol. ii, art. 126.
5 Josh. 9 : 27.
7 1 Sam. 1 : 11.
6 1 Chron. 9 : 2 5 Ezra 8 : 17, 20.