25:47-49
We now come to the situation where an Israelite has become poor and sells himself to a foreigner. Foreigners in the land were still subject to the Israelite laws. It seems that they were allowed to have an Israelite as a slave, but the slave could be redeemed, and blood-relative could redeem them. They could even redeem themselves if they prospered (25:49). This last bit reminds us that slavery was not quite like a common picture of it. This does not mean that it was pleasant! It may often have been brutal and harsh, but sometimes it was possible for a slave to amass sufficient money to buy themselves out.
25:50-54
The Israelite slave still had to take account of the years to the Jubilee, so the foreigner is treated fairly. So if many years were left, the price was higher than if only a few years remained. Then we learn that they were to be treated as hired workers, and not ruled over ruthlessly. The Israelite slave was still to be freed at the Jubilee. They belonged to the Lord. The circumstances and actions did not alter the fact that the man belonged to the Lord. And again we get the reminder that they were rescued by the Lord.
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