gave him no servants. “And Abraham
took sheep and oxen and gave them unto Abimelech.”
Gen. xxi. 27. It may be objected that Laban “GAVE”
handmaids to his daughters, Jacob’s wives.
Without enlarging on the nature of the polygamy then
prevalent, suffice it to say that the handmaids of
wives were regarded as wives, though of inferior dignity
and authority. That Jacob so regarded his handmaids,
is proved by his curse upon Reuben, Gen. xlix. 4,
and 1 Chron. v. 1; also by the equality of their children
with those of Rachel and Leah. But had it been
otherwise—had Laban given them as articles
of property, then, indeed, the example of this
“good old slaveholder and patriarch,” Saint
Laban, would have been a forecloser to all argument.
Ah! we remember his jealousy for religion—his
holy indignation when he found that his “GODS”
were stolen! How he mustered his clan, and plunged
over the desert in hot pursuit seven days by forced
marches; how he ransacked a whole caravan, sifting
the contents of every tent, little heeding such small
matters as domestic privacy, or female seclusion, for
lo! the zeal of his “IMAGES” had eaten
him up! No wonder that slavery, in its Bible-navigation,
drifting dismantled before the free gusts, should scud
under the lee of such a pious worthy to haul up and
refit; invoking his protection, and the benediction,
of his “GODS!” Again, it may be objected
that, servants were enumerated in inventories of property.
If that proves servants property, it proves
wives property. “Thou shall not
covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shall not covet
thy neighbor’s WIFE, nor his man-servant, nor
his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any
thing that is thy neighbor’s.” Ex.
xx. 17. In inventories of mere property, if servants
are included, it is in such a way as to show that
they are not regarded as property. Eccl. ii. 7,
8. But when the design is to show, not merely
the wealth, but the greatness and power
of any one, servants are spoken of, as well as property.
In a word, if riches alone are spoken of, no
mention is made of servants; if greatness,
servants and property. Gen. xiii. 2, 5. “And
Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in
gold.” Yet we are told, in the verse preceding,
that he came up out of Egypt “with all
that he had.” “And Lot also had flocks,
and herds, and tents.” In the seventh verse
servants are mentioned, “And there was a strife
between the HERDMEN of Abraham’s cattle and
the HERDMEN of Lot’s cattle.” It is
said of Isaac. “And the man waxed great,
and went forward, and grew until he became very
great. For he had possession of flocks, and
possession of herds, and great store of servants.”
In immediate connection with this we find Abimelech
the king of the Philistines saying to him. “Thou
art much mightier than we.” Shortly
after this avowal, Isaac is waited upon by a deputation
consisting of Abimelech, Phicol the chief captain of