First Slave in the Bible
Who was the first slave master and slave in the Bible?
The word, slave, is only used two times in the King James Bible: Jeremiah 2:14Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
See All...; Revelation 18:13And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
See All.... However, often (though not always) when the word "servant" is used it carries the meaning that we would apply to slave. For instance, Genesis 20:14And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
See All... tells how Abimelech took "menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham." These servants were not free. They were given to Abraham as the sheep and oxen were given.
The curse of Noah on Canaan in Genesis 9:25-27 [25] And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
[26] And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
[27] God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
See All... says of Canaan: "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren." He is to be a servant to Shem and a servant to Japheth, his father's two brothers. However, this is not a clear slave-master relationship. This passage has been interpreted in many ways. The idea that Canaan was an actual slave to Shem and Japheth is probably much less likely than several other choices.
The first definite slave-master relationship I can find is in Genesis 12:16And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
See All... where Abram (later called Abraham) has menservants and maidservants. Abram was definitely a slave-holder. The first time I can find where we know both the name of the master (or, in this case, the mistress) and the slave is in Genesis 16:1Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
See All... - "Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar." Sarai (later called Sarah) is the mistress and Hagar, who was the mother of Ishmael, was the maid or slave. The relationship is described as one in which Sarai "dealt hardly" (Genesis 16:6But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thine hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
See All...) with Hagar and later told Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman" (Genesis 21:10Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
See All...)