The Bible tells me that I can take slaves from the nations around me...?

The Bible does not tell YOU that if you live in the United States.

Biblical slavery was much different than slavery in the United States. It was a contract, enforced by violence, and unable to be broken like Americans like to do. This is why Americans typically are ignorant of Biblical slavery and what it means to have your word be your bond... .

Hmm.

There was on the bright side, a sabbath year of rest every seventh year, and a year of jubilee every fiftieth year. A closer look at the law, since you cited taking slaves

Exodus 21:26-27

"“When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.

- If even that is condemned, I wonder what would have happened with AMERICAN brutality and slavery? Oh wait, CIVIL WAR.

Exodus 21:20-21

“When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.

Also, I wonder if Deuteronomy 25:3 applies to slaves? It is important to look at ALL aspects of law, if you want to analyze it. I would expect that Deuteronomy applies even to slaves. Does it apply to Israelites only?

Questions like these are necessary to gain full understanding of Law in the Old Testament.

1If there be a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. 2And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. 3Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then your brother should seem vile to you.

“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.” - Exodus 21:16

Deut. 15:12 “If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13 And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed. 14 You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the LORD your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. -

I know there are more laws

.. Well I guess I could really be a lawyer. Never thought I'd do it (Dad's a lawyer)

Remember the bible speaks of "nations" not countries.

If you are in New York, it is OK to take slaves from New Jersey. Although there isn't much point to it.

Yeah, go with the Mexicans.

It doesn't say they can't fight back. I rather think they'd object to your slave-taking raids.

The Leviticus passage was speaking to the tribes of Israel who were invading a land occupied by small tribal "nations", not to modern Christians. Unless you're claiming Jewish heritage. Which most people quoting Leviticus would die rather than claim, for some obscure reason ....

Oh, totally! Just be sure that if you beat them that they live for at least a day after the beating. Otherwise it's a sin. Oh, but if they die after a couple days that's totally fine, because they're YOUR slaves, get it?!

If any modern person followed the "morals" of the bible, they'd be sent to prison for the rest of their life.

* edit: And by the way, it wouldn't matter which country they lived in.

Sure, I mean who's going to stop you when you have The Lord Almighty on your side. The OT should not be ignored.

Your house will smell like maple syrup and you'll only have hockey playing on your tv.

Cite your resources. I would bet you're in the Old Testament of your Bible. Sure, you would be so cool with Canadian slaves, and your mother could come visit you everyday in the prison.

The Bible didn't tell you that and you know it. Are you living in ancient Israel? Are you 4000 years old? Mocking God; not smart.