Amanda Roza

Professor Thompson
Ancient History
October 10, 2016

Hebrew Slavery
The differences of opinion stem mostly from how slavery is defined. Theory and practice of
Egyptian were as far as we can tell, quite different from those of Greece, Rome or the southern
states of the US where slaves were at the mercy of their owners with little protection from
society. More under the lines of the slavery practiced.
Part of the slaves were personal servants of individuals. Others belonged to estates of temples
often taken during a military campaign or bestowed by the king.
Some Hebrews were sold into slavery because of debts that sold themselves to escape poverty.
As some slaves did not lose all their civil rights; and sometimes the economic security they
gained through their news status might seem to be worth giving up some freedom for.
Punishment includes having to be proposed that the Vizier had the right to impose perpetual
forced labor on a convicted criminal. Women paid a temple to be accepted as a servant.
Male slaves were at times significantly cheaper than these accomplished females, probably
depending on their abilities and the uses they were going to be put under.
Slaves being property, if they tried to escape they were pursued and recaptured if possible the
reason for attempted escapes was often harsh punishments.
It is hard to believe that 600,000 families (which would mean about two million people) crossed
the entire Sinai without leaving one shard of pottery with Hebrew writing on it. It is remarkable
that Egyptian records make no mention of the sudden migration of what would have been nearly

a quarter of their population, nor has any evidence been found for any of the expected effects of
such an exodus; such as economic downturn or labor shortages. Furthermore, there is no
evidence in Israel that shows a sudden influx of people from another culture at that time. No
rapid departure from traditional pottery has been seen, no record or story of a surge in
population.
In fact, there's absolutely no more evidence to suggest that the story is true then there is in
support of any of the Arab world's conspiracy theories and tall tales about Jews. So remind those
who may forget that there is no ancient animosity between Israelites and Egyptians.
Slaves were primarily war prisoners in ancient Egypt. Contrary to the popular connotation of
slaves as pieces of properties, in ancient Egypt, the connotation of slaves was that of someone
who owed a debt to his master. Indentured servitude in early America is a better approximation
to slavery in ancient Egypt than the institution of slavery in the United States. One likeness,
however, is that slaves could be sold, traded or inherited. Children of slaves also became slaves
when they were old enough to work. Since slaves were property, they did not have to pay taxes.
Egyptian peasants did. Slaves, therefore, sometimes enjoyed a better standard of living than
peasants, even though they were considered lower ranking in society. Scholars also now believe
that, contrary to popular opinion, the great pyramids were not constructed by slaves who were
forced to work under harsh conditions but by free skilled laborers who considered it a privilege
to be selected to help build them.

Websites http://us.wow.com/search?
q=Ancient+Egypt+Slavery+Life&s_chn=262&s_pt=aolsem&v_t=aolsem&s_it=rs-mid
Reshafim.olrg.il
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/slavery.html
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/slavery.html