debt-slavery laws

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to study Leviticus 25:35-46 in order to understand the motivation clauses. This work seeks to study the text in its literary context, and the conclusions revealed the importance of its motivation clauses and their relation to the debt-slavery laws. For instance, Leviticus presents clauses on which the Israelites are to base their obedience of the debt-slavery on the following motivations: “fear your God” (25:36, 43); “I am YHWH your God, who brought you out of the land of Canaan, to be your God” (25:38); and “For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt” (25:42). The study of Leviticus 25:35-46 points to two categories of motivation clauses. One of them deals with the name or the character of God, and others deal with the redemptive works of God. By unpacking the meaning of these clauses, the study leads to an understanding that God’s self-proclamation (e.g., “I am the Lord your God”) and his redeeming works (e.g., “who brought you out of Egypt”) were the basis on which Israelites were to respond with obedience to debt-slavery laws. In short, reverence of YHWH and obedience should be a result of who God is and what he has done. The knowledge of YHWH’s character and his divine works should compel His people to ethical behavior expressed in obedience to debt-slavery laws. If the above paragraphs were true with the OT people of God, then one should spend more time thinking on these categories: The nature of God and the works of God. This aspect would change one’s perspective on laws dealing with ethical issues. Wright argues that Israel’s ethical behavior was defined by the identity of their God Yahweh and God’s ‘initiative in grace and redeeming action’ (Christopher Wright: 2004, 23 30). This same pattern is found in the New Testament – God’s nature (Christ, God incarnated) and what he has done on the cross (redemption of sinners) are the basis on which New Testament believers should respond to the destitute in the Church (1 John 3:11-24; 5:13-21).