Learn Akkadian with Dr. Josh Bowen, sign up here!: https://www.religiondepartment.com/akkadian

Can I just say I appreciate that you aren't downplaying or censoring this topic.

"Today's subject: SLAVERY"

Ah, finally, a completely uncontroversial topic that will unify the masses

Really liked the clear inclusion of citations that emphasize with the perspective of the slaves, especially the women, and that properly name their mistreatment rather than using more vague terms that somewhat obfuscate the suffering they experienced.

I'd also be interested to see videos on Early Christian attitudes towards slavery and 1700s-1800s attitudes, when Christians were using the Bible to argue both for and against slavery.

Some people: you don't understand. Biblical slavery is different
Leviticus:

I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Joshua Bowen several times now. A genuine legend of the game.

shout-out to all ancient agrarian finance experts 8:13

This is honestly one of the best pieces on history I've seen on this platform from any creator on any topic. Exceptionally well-researched and well-executed. Thank you!

Andrew, your videos continue to be probably the best video essay I've ever seen. I'm not in your field but I am fascinated by understanding religion. The level of research, deep academic, peer reviewed research, is so apparent by the care and transparency with which you present.

Keep it up!

I'm glad you mentioned the sexual assault inherent to slavery. I was a little skeptical about you covering it just due to how so many others avoid it and the state of that kind of discussion on this platform, but I know you're a serious scholar. You didn't disappoint.

One take, no hot air and BS, straight to the point. You can do that when you have truth on your side.
A Native American saying - telling the truth does not take a long amount of time.

The Bible advocates for slavery so much that it gives prices you can sell your children for, your sons for twice as much as your daughters.

Exodus 21:7 “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. 8 If she does not satisfy her owner, he must allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. 9 But if the slave’s owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave but as a daughter.”

Don't do it
It's wrong
It's not permitted
Ok, here's how you should do it

Would love to see a sequel about the same topic in the New Testament!

Since the stories in the old testament were written by Hebrews for Hebrews, it's no surprise that the enslavement of the old Israelites by the Egyptians would be considered horrible not because it's slavery and slavery is inherently an abomination, but because of whom it happened to. It's not like God freed any slaves from other peoples, after all. Their firstborn were killed and they suffered from the plagues - probably worse than the Egyptians, because who would feed their slaves first in a famine and let their own people die instead.
That's also why rules that limit how long someone can be made a slave only protect other Hebrews.

I've always found it ridiculous when people took this story as being anti slavery, not just god freeing his favorite people (and horribly punishing countless innocents in the process, like usual)

Anyone complaining about a literary analysis of a text and calling it irreverent is, as the kids say, big mad.

As to Leviticus 25:44-46, why is it that I’ve never seen a commentary on the end of 25:46, which states “but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour.”  One needs to look at the biblical usage of the word here that is translated as “rigour”.  The meaning of this word in biblical usage is “harshness, severity or cruelty”.  What this text is saying is essentially this: treat your chattel slaves with harshness, severity or cruelty if you wish, but not your Israelite slaves.  This is just another example of how the two classes of slaves are differentiated as to their human value.

Whats so interesting is that most of the other Laws in the Torah are made to set israel apart from the surrounding areas; condemning witchcraft, warfare, proper worship, etc. But when it comes to free labor and domination of other people? Nah nah nah, lets keep THAT one lol