Eh. It’s decent. I was expecting a much better presentation from a scholar. Sometimes the writing style has a generic tone. I had high hopes for this book, but after reading it, the overall impression is that of void spots (seems to be a lot unexplored; see Oeste example) and inconsistencies.
For example, Bowen at first makes it sound as if the OT slavery is not an improvement compared to other nations in the ANE (pages ii, 52, 90, 174) – “.. there is a gross misunderstanding .. there are ideas floating about concerning what other ancient Near Eastern cultures were like, and how the Old Testament greatly improved upon practices such as slavery” (page ii). He gives examples of that misunderstanding, but he also presents examples of where the OT slavery is an improvement compared to the other nations: ANE culture has execution, cutting off ears and gouging eyes for runaway slaves, while the OT prohibits such permanent damage (pages 29, 30, 56-7; Exodus 21:12, 26-7) (Here, Bowen also explains on those pages that slaves could be disciplined under the OT, as with an adolescent family member, but not an abusive beating). Escaped slaves from other nations were freed in Israel under OT law and not extradited, while other nations had treaties for extradition (pages 180-3, 185; Deut. 23:15-6). Page 175 reads, “.. the Hebrew Bible does likely provide some developments in the humane treatment of slaves ..” Bowen missed an interesting note on the forced marriage with female war captives (page 30) – he neglects to mention a time improvement with the OT. From Oeste: “The marriage is to take place after the captive woman has ‘mourned her father and mother for a full month’ (Deut 21:13) … the granting of a time for mourning, and a relatively long one at that .. within ancient-world grieving patterns. Where one week was the cultural norm for grieving family loss, the biblical legislation required four times that standard length of time … Ancient war captives were typically granted no mourning rights (zero). The biblical requirement of a mourning time for enemy captives stands alone as a monument – an unrivaled statement of compassion – within ancient warfare.” ( - Bloody, Brutal, and Barbaric?, 2019, pages 120-1; co-author: Gordon Oeste, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor of Old Testament, Tyndale Seminary, Toronto)
Bowen even admits the OT laws favor the slave over the master: “.. the evidence seems to suggest that the laws were in place to prevent the master from abusing his slave … the laws of release built into the legal system were in support of the enslaved” (pages 111, 141). From pages 51, 174: “Although slaves were often considered chattel .. this does not mean that they were merely subject to the whims of their master, to be treated in any way that the master saw fit … As we saw in the Hebrew Bible, slaves had certain rights, and there were limitations on how they could be treated … the slave had the right to be free from excessive beatings and outright abuse, and could not be killed with premeditation by the master.”
Even the title of the book is a little misleading. It’s not just one answer. Did the OT endorse slavery? Yes, page 187, etc. Or, no – “The prophet Amos, for example, considered the mass sale of entire populations into slavery – ostensibly for strictly monetary gain – to be abhorrent and deserving of divine retribution (Amos 1:6; 9). This, of course, does not indicate that God was against slavery, but the mass misuse of people groups” (page 193). And that was in a mere footnote that Bowen admits the OT was against a large scale slavery. Bowen questions the title himself: “It seems to me that the question before us should not be, ‘Does the Old Testament endorse slavery?’, but rather, ‘How should we understand the biblical texts and the god of the Hebrew Bible in light of his endorsement of slavery in the Old Testament?’ ” (pages 192-3).
Bowen maintains that the existence of slavery laws in the OT means the OT endorses slavery (pages 187, 191) – a law system that favors the slave over the master as he admits above, even pointing to another law: “In some ways, to debate the endorsement of slavery in the Hebrew Bible would be akin to asking, ‘Does the Old Testament endorse killing people?’ Of course it does. However, there are restrictions and provisions in the law … The laws gave their proverbial stamp of approval on killing in these particular circumstances” (page 192). But, perhaps it is more similar to Sin Tax laws. Does the existence of laws that allow or regulate the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other smoking products, chewing tobacco, or an alcoholic industry, mean that the State endorses it? Then, Bowen describes the OT law as a situation of “if” the Israelites wanted slaves, which sounds more nebulous rather than an endorsement, as with Sin Tax laws: “The text says, essentially, that they [Israelites] cannot treat their own people in this way; if they wanted slaves, they could only get them from the people who were not their brethren” (page 141).
A key void spot is on page 193. Bowen declares, “One can be a Christian, for example, in spite of the endorsement of slavery in the Old Testament.” But, he does not explain how. That’s a controversial statement. A little more information, please. A “few” atheists (etc) might consider that a contradiction and may want you to expound.
Also, the printing format can be annoying. Considering that the letters are too large and the sentence lines are double spaced or near it, this book could easily be half the size it is (maybe a third). Some pages may take 3 seconds or less to read. A side note - the Amazon Product detail section shows the paperback as 235 pages, but there are 221 numbered pages in the book. Even counting the extra unnumbered pages at the front does not equal 235.
Would I recommend the book? Eh. Not if you’re looking for a straight answer on the subject. If this is the only book you’re going to read on the subject, then no. It needs more content, organization, consistency and clarity. He seems to argue for both sides and against both sides. I did find some useful notes here as I research this matter, though. Bowen does admit to a lot that would be contrary to atheistic (etc) assertions.
End of review.
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There are a variety of topics related to biblical studies that are thorny: the composition of the Pentateuch, the reliability of the Gospels, and more. Few are as controversial as that of biblical slavery but thankfully Joshua Bowen has produced a clear, concise, and compelling introduction to the subject. In just a couple of hundred pages, Bowen gives an overview of debt-slavery and chattel-slavery in both the Hebrew Bible and in the ancient Near East, a brief exegesis of related texts from the Torah, and a response to various objections to the standard scholarly views on the matter. That Bowen depends on the opinions of biblical scholars and historians is abundantly clear from both the numerous citations in the body of his book as well as the very helpful bibliography at the end. It is this that sets his work apart from the apologetic drivel produced by inerrantists of various stripes (e.g. J Warner Wallace, Matt Slick, etc.).If you're interested in reading a well thought out volume aimed at informing readers with the best scholarship available, Bowen's book is the way to go. If you're looking for a work that minimizes or ignores slavery in the Bible, I'm sure William Lane Craig or Frank Turek have something up your alley.
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R. J. Comley
A great primer for studies in Old Testament slavery laws.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 30, 2021ben
a thorough investigation of an intriguing subject.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2020TW
An in-depth study by an academic who knows the field.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2020
