My Slaves - Way Of Truth Book

Lev. 25:42, 55

For they are My slaves whom I brought out from the land of Egypt. They are not to be sold as slaves.

For the children of Israel are My slaves. They are My slaves whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am YHWH your Mighty One”

Many translators soften the meaning of the Hebrew word ehbed when they employ the English word servant. However, the context of the initial passage shows that slavery is what is being referred to. Lev. 25:44, 45, 46.

For your slaves, you acquire from the surrounding nations…

…they may become your possession…

You may give them to your sons after you as an inheritance to use as permanent slaves”

Moreover, a clear contrast is made between how a hired servant is treated versus a slave–who is bought and owned as property. Lev. 25:39-40, 53

You shall not subject him as a slave. As a hired servant…he shall be with you.

As a hired servant he shall be with him yearly. He shall not rule over him with harshness”

It must be noted that this passage, by itself, endorses slavery, so long as the slave is a foreigner or the descendant of a foreign resident. However, when one understands that it has always been YHWH’s plan that no one should be considered a foreigner (except in the secular world), we can see that slavery was only allowed for a season. Lev. 19:34; Deu. 10:19; Isa. 56:3

But the stranger that dwells with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and you shalt love him as yourself”

“Therefore, you shall love the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt”

“Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to YHWH, speak, saying, “YHWH has utterly separated me from His people”

Our fathers were strangers in the land of Egypt and slaves to the Egyptian people. When YHWH redeemed them, He purchased them. Exo. 15:13, 16; Deu. 32:6; Psa. 74:2. It is for this reason, YHWH told them not to sell themselves as slaves to each other. Lev. 25:42.

When our fathers sold themselves to the nations through vanity, YHWH promised them through His prophet Isaiah that He would repurchase them with something greater than money. Isa. 52:3. They would become His slaves again.

Jacob Mckessey says

May 25, 2024 at 10:06 pm

Isa. 52:3-7 (Brenton LXX)

For thus says YHWH, ‘You have been sold for nothing, and you shall not be ransomed with silver.’ Thus says YHWH, ‘My people went down before to Egypt to sojourn there; and were carried away forcibly to the Assyrians. And now why are you here?’

Thus says YHWH, ‘Because my people were taken for nothing, wonder you and howl.’

Thus says YHWH, ‘On account of you My name is continually blasphemed among the nations. Therefore shall My people know My name in that day, for I am He that speaks I am present, as a season of beauty upon the mountains, as the feet of one preaching glad tidings of peace, as one preaching good news: for I will publish your salvation, saying, ‘O Zion, your Mighty One shall reign.’”

When we say that “our fathers sold themselves to the nations through vanity”, what we mean is that following our exile in Egypt, we were taken captive by the Assyrians because of rebellion against our first Love. 2 Ki. 18:11-12

And the king of Asshur removed Israel to Asshur and placed them in Halah, and Habor by the river Gozan, and in cities of the Medes because they have not listened to the voice of YHWH their Mighty One. They have transgressed His covenant –all that He commanded Moses, YHWH’s servant. Look! They have not listened nor obeyed.”

When we say that YHWH promised that He would “repurchase them with something greater than money”, we mean that even in our current exile awaiting the promises stated in Isaiah 52:1 & 8, He will ransom us “not with silver” (Isa. 52:3).

Isaiah’s prophecy is referenced by the apostle Peter in his first letter to those in exile among the nations. 1 Pe. 1:1, 18-19

Peter, an apostle of Yeshua the Messiah, to the choice sojourners of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia…

having known that not with corruptible things —silver or gold— were you redeemed from your foolish behavior delivered by fathers, but with precious blood, as of a Lamb unblemished and unspotted –the Messiah’s.”

Shimon Kipha (Peter) further elaborated on this concept. 1 Pe. 2:24; 1 Pe. 4:1-2

who our sins Himself did bear in His body, upon the tree, that having died to sins, we may live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed”

The Messiah, then, having suffered for us in the flesh, you also with the same mind arm yourselves, because he who suffers in the flesh has ceased from sin, no more in the desires of men, but in the will of the Mighty One”

The apostles said that because of the Messiah’s blood (Him laying down His life), we can be redeemed from our foolish behavior inherited by our fathers. He said that because of His ultimate sacrifice, we too can die to our sins and live for righteousness. He said that because He suffered for us in the flesh, we should follow His example and put our old way of life to death.

Isaiah called this the “good news” (Isa. 52:7), besorah or Gospel.

The idea is that the One who saves and purchases us from our natural enemies (the nations in which we now live who oppose His Covenant and Kingship), first saves and purchases us from ourselves (that is, our selfish desires and sinful inclinations).

There will be a day when YHWH will be King over the whole earth. Until that day, we must make Him our King by becoming His subjects now.

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Jacob Mckessey says

May 25, 2024 at 10:06 pm

Isa. 52:3-7 (Brenton LXX)

For thus says YHWH, ‘You have been sold for nothing, and you shall not be ransomed with silver.’ Thus says YHWH, ‘My people went down before to Egypt to sojourn there; and were carried away forcibly to the Assyrians. And now why are you here?’

Thus says YHWH, ‘Because my people were taken for nothing, wonder you and howl.’

Thus says YHWH, ‘On account of you My name is continually blasphemed among the nations. Therefore shall My people know My name in that day, for I am He that speaks I am present, as a season of beauty upon the mountains, as the feet of one preaching glad tidings of peace, as one preaching good news: for I will publish your salvation, saying, ‘O Zion, your Mighty One shall reign.’”

When we say that “our fathers sold themselves to the nations through vanity”, what we mean is that following our exile in Egypt, we were taken captive by the Assyrians because of rebellion against our first Love. 2 Ki. 18:11-12

And the king of Asshur removed Israel to Asshur and placed them in Halah, and Habor by the river Gozan, and in cities of the Medes because they have not listened to the voice of YHWH their Mighty One. They have transgressed His covenant –all that He commanded Moses, YHWH’s servant. Look! They have not listened nor obeyed.”

When we say that YHWH promised that He would “repurchase them with something greater than money”, we mean that even in our current exile awaiting the promises stated in Isaiah 52:1 & 8, He will ransom us “not with silver” (Isa. 52:3).

Isaiah’s prophecy is referenced by the apostle Peter in his first letter to those in exile among the nations. 1 Pe. 1:1, 18-19

Peter, an apostle of Yeshua the Messiah, to the choice sojourners of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia…

having known that not with corruptible things —silver or gold— were you redeemed from your foolish behavior delivered by fathers, but with precious blood, as of a Lamb unblemished and unspotted –the Messiah’s.”

Shimon Kipha (Peter) further elaborated on this concept. 1 Pe. 2:24; 1 Pe. 4:1-2

who our sins Himself did bear in His body, upon the tree, that having died to sins, we may live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed”

The Messiah, then, having suffered for us in the flesh, you also with the same mind arm yourselves, because he who suffers in the flesh has ceased from sin, no more in the desires of men, but in the will of the Mighty One”

The apostles said that because of the Messiah’s blood (Him laying down His life), we can be redeemed from our foolish behavior inherited by our fathers. He said that because of His ultimate sacrifice, we too can die to our sins and live for righteousness. He said that because He suffered for us in the flesh, we should follow His example and put our old way of life to death.

Isaiah called this the “good news” (Isa. 52:7), besorah or Gospel.

The idea is that the One who saves and purchases us from our natural enemies (the nations in which we now live who oppose His Covenant and Kingship), first saves and purchases us from ourselves (that is, our selfish desires and sinful inclinations).

There will be a day when YHWH will be King over the whole earth. Until that day, we must make Him our King by becoming His subjects now.

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