I have ran across dozens of anti-christian anti-Bible proponents who have made the claim that the Bible promotes sex slavery. Many of them are doing so in reaction to the shame of contemporary American society which may be currently a place for 300,000 sex enslaved children.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/inside-lives-american-sex-slaves-national-geographic-investigates/story?id=19753044
"When some people hear about sex trafficking in America they usually think of Asian and Eastern European women being brought into the States, but it's actually 10 times more likely for an American girl to be trafficked inside the U.S. Further, almost 300,000 American children are at risk for trafficking into the sex industry, according to U.S. Department of State statistics."
For the most part anti-bible Propagandists resort bringing up this passage. Typically they simply hurl the accusation without even quoting the source ust to put up a "smokescreen" argument to divert our attention away from a larger topic. But let's look at this passage and ask ourselves if this is really an equivalent of human trafficking or sex slavery.
1. "When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies"
Look at the conditions of the scenario. Most sex trafficking is about kidnapping a child at a baseball game.
2."and thou hast taken them captive,"
This situation is not referring to a free woman. She would not be a free woman in today's free society ether. She is a P.O.W. (Prisoner of War) Her family was captured because the men in her family were intent on killing the Israelites. So her freedom was forfeited.
3. " and seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife" The young man desires the woman. But he does not simply desire her for a night of passion. He desires her for a lifelong commitment. A commitment in which he is responsible to support her and all the children that they have together in sickness and in health till he dies.
4. "13 and she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month:"
Here the woman is being given free room and board for a month. She is given an opportunity to be rehabilitated. She is no longer under a slave status. She is being redeemed and given worth. today's government does similar activity with "witness protection program's"
5. "after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife. 14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will;"
Now at this point someone new to reading ancient texts might jump to a sex slavery conclusion.
However this is directive not simply of how the future husband treats his future bride but the bride to her future husband. She has been in this situation for a month. She knew the prospects of her POW status without this man. She knew of the engagement and has been taking liberties given to her for a month. when we see "wither she will" it is obvious that if she does not want this she is being freed.
6. "but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her." She is not His property! Because if she was he would have been able to sell her. Now you may argue "well he could have been having sex with her or raping her till then"
Not according to the torah!
deut. 22:25 ¶
But if a man find a betrothed maid in the field and force her, and lie
with her, then the man that lay with her, shall die alone:26 And unto the maid thou shalt do nothing, because there is in the maid no [a]cause of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbor and woundeth him to death, so [b]is this matter. 27 For he found her in the fields: the betrothed maid cried, and there was no man to succor her."
Sex is not allowed outside of marriage leviticus 19:20-21 , deut. 22:13-21
Now, women of this time were not given equal status that we see in today's society for their own protection against heathen savages who were willing to rape pillage and kill them. But these laws were statutes a series of minor laws that were directly written to address the issues of that particular day and time.
We are under a new dispensation.
Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life."
But these statutory laws of the Old covenant were holy laws from God dealing the situations at that time in a holy manor.
SO NO THERE WAS NO SEX SlAVERY PROMOTED BY THE OLD TESTAMENT.
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