Slavery in the Old Testament

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The Old Testament is comprised of parables, metaphors, and sequential stories explaining the unknown entities of mankind. Here, believers utilize this foundation in order to better understand, evaluate, and rectify occurrences throughout daily life. In early American history, the old-testament was routinely used to justify slavery. The aim of this research is to discuss the specific reference and justification of slavery as it is portrayed in the Old-Testament.

The Christian church's main justification of slavery is based on Genesis 9:25-27. (Haynes, 2) Early America was primarily Anglo-Saxon protestant, and practiced a religion that was strictly based on the teachings of the Bible; more specifically the Old-Testament. From here, we begin to compare the ideology of previous generations to the popular belief of today's society considering slavery itself, as an immoral practice. This can only be settled in that either the text of the Bible is not valid, or that it was being misinterpreted. And if it is confirmed, that the Bible was misinterpreted, we must be able prove such misinterpretation? The basis of this research will be centered on Genesis 9:25-27 and will discuss the historical implications as well as the social developments regarding the moral dilemma encoded within the slavery of Africans and their descendants.

When mankind had become evil and corrupt the Lord decided it was time to purify the land. God did this by flooding all the earth. According to the Bible, when the worldwide flood had concluded, there were only 8 humans alive on earth: Noah, his wife, their six sons and daughters in law. Noah's son Ham was guilty of disgracing his father's name and ill-treatment towards Noah. So, a curse was cast upon Ham. The curse however wasn't directly cursing Ham. It was transferred to Ham's oldest son Canaan. (Genesis 9:18-29)

It was believed by The Christian church that the curse had been extended to Canaan's descendants. "The most positive and racist approach looked upon the curse of Ham as a divine decree that set the Negro race apart as an inferior, servile people." (Tise, 118) Their deep rooted beliefs come from an interpretation of the direct content within the Old Testament. Genesis 9:25-27 states: "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers. He also said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem." Historians traditionally believed that Canaan and his descendants have settled in Africa, more specifically, Northern Africa.

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