The Wonderful Law

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1896 Excerpt: ... an institution as foreign to the Israelitish policy as candor is to the character of some who assail the law of Moses as an instrument of bondage and oppression. THE PUNISHMENT FOR MANSTEALING. Slavery had its foundation in violence and kidnapping; but the law of Moses said, He that stealeth a man and selleth him, or if he he found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. Exod xxi. 16. The law of Moses made the stealing of a man, selling him, or holding the man thus stolen in bondage, a capital crime. Again it is said, If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth.him, then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you. Deut. xxiv. 7. Under the law of Moses no theft of property was punishable with death. Such crimes were punished by enforcing restitution, in some cases twofold, in others four or fivefold; and in cases of poverty, by compelling the thief to work as a bondman, and repay the value of the things stolen. Exod. xxii. 3, 9, 12. But when a man was stolen, the penalty was death; and the stealing or selling of a man was thus punishable, and no mercy was allowed. Hence slavery, properly so called, was unknown, and the word slave does not occur in the writings of Moses. In some cases bondmen and bondmaids were purchased of the heathen round about, and of the children of strangers, and these were brought unto a condition of permanent servitude. Lev. xxv. 44, 45. But these persons were already enslaved and degraded, and the change must have been most welcome to them. And there is a question whether this servitude extended beyond the year of jubilee. These servants were to be circumcised, and participate in the passover feast (Exod. vii. 44), and in other re...