The Bible and slavery

11th-century manuscript of the Hebrew Bible with Targum, Exodus 12:25–31 The Franks Casket is an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon whalebone casket, the back of which depicts the enslavement of the Jewish people at the lower right. The Bible contains many references to slavery, which was a common practice in antiquity. In the course of human history, slavery was a typical feature of civilization, predated written records, and existed in most societies throughout history. Slavery is an economic phenomenon. Biblical texts outline sources and the legal status of slaves, economic roles of slavery, types of slavery, and debt slavery, which thoroughly explain the institution of slavery in Israel in antiquity. The Bible stipulates the treatment of slaves, especially in the Old Testament. There are also references to slavery in the New Testament. In both testaments and Jewish culture, there are also practices of manumission, releasing from slavery. The treatment and experience of slaves in both testaments was complex, diverse and differed from those of surrounding cultures. Many of the patriarchs portrayed in the Bible were from the upper echelons of society, owned slaves, enslaved those in debt t