SLANDER (slan'cler), (Hcb. dib-baw', an evil report), (Num. xiv:36; Ps. xxxi:13; Prov. x:18). SLAVE (slay), (Heb. eh'bed; Vulg. serve's; A. V. servant and bondman).
It is difficult to trace the origin of slavery. It may have existed before the deluge, when violence filled the earth, and drew upon it the vengeance of God. But the first direct reference to slavery, or rather slave-trading, in the Bible, is found in the history of Joseph, who was sold by his breth ren to the Ishmachtes (Gen. xxxvii :27, 28). In Ezek. xxvii :12, 13, we find a reference to the slave-trade carried on with Tyre by Javan, Tubal, and Meshech. And in the Apocalypse we find enumerated in the merchandise of pagan Rome (the mystic Babylon) slaves (crwihdra) and the souls of men (Rev. xviii :13).
The sacred historians refer to various kinds of bondage :— (1) Patriarchal Servitude. The exact nature of this service cannot be defined : there can be no doubt, however, that it was regulated by principles of justice, equity, and kindness. The servants of the patriarchs were of two kinds, those 'born in the house,' and those 'bought with money' (Gen. xvii :13). Abraham appears to have had a large number of servants. At one time lie armed three hundred and eighteen young men, 'born in his own house,' with whom lie pursued the kings who had taken 'Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the people,' and recaptured them (Gen. xiv : 1-16). The servants born in the house were per haps entitled to greater privileges than the others. Eliezer of Damascus, a home-born servant, was Abraham's steward, and, in default of issue, would ye been his heir (Gen. xv :2-4). This class of servants was honored with the most intimate confidence of their masters, and was employed in the most important services. An instance of this kind will be found in Gen. xxiv :1-9, where the eldest or chief servant of Abraham's house, who ruled over all that lie had, was sent to Mesopo tamia to select a wife for Isaac, though then forty years of age. The servants of Abraham were ad mitted into the same religious privileges with their master, and received the seal of the covenant (Gen. xvii:9, 14, 24, 27)• There is a clear distinction made between the `servants' of Abraham and the things which con stituted his property or wealth. Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold (Gen. xiii :2, 5). But when the patriarch's power or greatness is spoken of, then servants are spoken of as well as the objects which constituted his riches (Gen. xxiv :34, 35). A similar distinction
is made in the case of Isaac and of Jacob. In no single instance do we find that the patriarchs either gave away or sold their servants, or pur chased them of third persons. Abraham had serv ants 'bought with money.' It has been assumed that they were bought of third parties, whereas there is no proof that this was the case. The probability is that they sold• themselves to the patriarch for an equivalent; that is to say, they entered into voluntary engagements to serve him for a longer or shorter period of time, in return for the money advanced them. It is a fallacy to suppose that whatever costs money is money or property. The children of Israel were required to purchase their firstborn (Num. xviii:15, 16; iii :45-51 ; Exod. xiii :13; xxxiv :20). They were, moreover, required to pay money for their own souls; and when they set themselves or their chil dren apart by vow unto the Lord, the price of re lease was fixed by statute (Lev. xxvii :2-8). Boaz bought Ruth (Ruth iv :to). Hosea bought his wife (Hos. iii :2). Jacob bought his wives Rachel and Leah ; and not having money, paid for them in labor, seven years apiece (Gen. xxix :16-23). That the purchase of wives, either with money or by service, was the general practice, is plain from such passages as Exod. xxii :17, and I Sam. xviii :25. But the idea of property does not appear in any of these purchases. For the various ways in which the terms 'bought,' buy,' and 'bought with money,' are used, consult Nell. v:8; Gen. xlvii:18-26, etc. In Lev. xxv:47, will be found the case of the Israelite who became the servant of the stranger. The words are, 'If he sell him self unto the stranger.' Yet the 51st verse says that this servant was 'bought,' and that the price of the purchase was paid to himself. For a fur ther clue to Scripture usage, the reader is referred to 1 Kings xxi :20, 25 ; 2 Kings xvii :17; Is. Iv:I; lii :3; see also Jer. xxxiv :lit; Rom. vi:t6; vii:I4: John viii :34. Probably Job had more servants that either of the patriarchs to whom reference has been made (Job :2, 3). In what light he re garded, and how he treated, his servants, may be gathered from Job xxxi :13-23. And that Abra ham acted in the same spirit we have the divine testimony in Jer. xxii :15, 16, 17, where his conduct is placed in direct contrast with that of some of his descendants, who used their neighbor's serv ice without wages, and gave him not for his work (verse 13).