Because Israel has been redeemed from slavery, they are to release others from slavery. God does not forbid slavery (Exod. 21:1–11), but He spends a lot of time telling Israel how to set slaves free. In Deuteronomy, God tells Israel that every seventh year they should let Hebrew slaves go free (Deut. 15:12). When the Lord brings Israel out of slavery, they are not empty-handed; God gives them the treasures of Egypt (Exod. 12:35–36). Israelites are supposed to treat their slaves the same way: “when you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed” (Deut. 15:13).
