Leviticus 25:44

44 As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are round about you.

Leviticus 25:44 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 25:44

Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have,
&c.] Such it seems were allowed them, if they had need of them; but if they had them, they were to be not of the nation of Israel, but of other nations; this is an anticipation of an objection, as Jarchi observes; if so, who shall I have to minister to me? The answer follows, they [shall be] of the heathen that are round about thee, of them shall ye
buy bondmen and bondmaids;
that is, of the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Syrians, as Aben Ezra, that were their neighbours, that lived round about them, of any but the seven nations, which they were ordered utterly to destroy; wherefore Jarchi observes it is said, "that are round about thee"; not in the midst of the border of your land, for them they were not to save alive, ( Deuteronomy 20:16 ) .

Leviticus 25:44 In-Context

42 For they are my servants, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves.

43 You shall not rule over him with harshness, but shall fear your God.

44 As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are round about you.

45 You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their families that are with you, who have been born in your land; and they may be your property.

46 You may bequeath them to your sons after you, to inherit as a possession for ever; you may make slaves of them, but over your brethren the people of Israel you shall not rule, one over another, with harshness.