Critics of the Bible often claim that the Mosaic law establishes a system of perpetual slavery and inherited slaves. This argument is overly simplistic and ignores both the totality of what the text says and also the broader historical context. There are several key things to note. First of all, the Old Testament did not establish slavery. It acknowledged its reality in the Ancient Near East and sought to work to curb its practice, mitigating cruelty and granting unprecedented rights.  Inherited slaves existed, as did poverty and war, none of which were what God had prescribed for mankind. He allowed slavery just as He allowed poverty and war to exist due to the Fall and our rebellion against Him, while planting the theological seeds for the institution's eventual abolition.

Critics of the Bible often claim that the Mosaic law establishes a system of perpetual slavery and inherited slaves. This argument is overly simplistic and ignores both the totality of what the text says and also the broader historical context. The primary passage reads:

> Leviticus 25:44–46, “As for your male and female slaves whom you may have—you may acquire male and female slaves from the pagan nations that are around you. 45 ‘Then, too, it is out of the sons of the sojourners who live as aliens among you that you may gain acquisition, and out of their families who are with you, whom they will have produced in your land; they also may become your possession [achuzzah]. 46 ‘You may even bequeath them to your sons after you, to receive as a possession [achuzzah]; you can use them as permanent slaves. But in respect to your countrymen, the sons of Israel, you shall not rule with severity over one another.”

There are several key things to note. First of all, the Old Testament did not establish slavery. It acknowledged its reality and sought to work to curb its practice. Inherited slaves existed, as did poverty and war, none of which were what God had prescribed for mankind. He allowed slavery just as He allowed poverty and war to exist as tragic consequences of the Fall and our rebellion against Him. The Mosaic law mitigated cruelty and was a pedagogical step toward the ultimate freedom found in Christ.

Slave ownership was a common practice long before the time the Mosaic Law was given. So, the law neither instituted slavery nor ended it; rather, the law regulated it. It gave instructions on how slaves should be treated but did not outlaw slavery altogether.

When the Israelites settled in the land of Canaan, the narrative reflects the historical realities of the ancient Near East. God allowed the Hebrews to take slaves from among that population as a concession to the times: “Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you... you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly” (Leviticus 25:44–46). The law thus permitted slavery within strict limits.

Some criticize the Bible because it did not demand an immediate overthrow of every ingrained, centuries-old sinful custom of the day. However, Christians understand this through the principle of divine pedagogy (oikonomia)—God chooses to change people and society gradually, leading humanity toward the fullness of truth and love ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ, where there is 'neither slave nor free' (Galatians 3:28).