There are often misunderstandings among Christians over what the Old Testament teaches on a certain topic. Here is one such example.

Misunderstander 1 says, “Restore OT immigration policy. Servants until the 3rd generation so that they are adequately educated on the culture and assimilated before they enjoy benefits and authorities of a “member of the congregation “.

[At least this individual wants to restore biblical policy, unlike most Christians who want a police state to enforce their arbitrary whims.]

Bo says, “There was no such “immigration policy” in the OT. No one could be forced to be a servant for any reason whatsoever except for crime. Even those who were slaves in foreign lands and fled to Israel, automatically were to be considered free persons.

Caleb was a second generation “immigrant.” His father was a Kenezite – from one of the Canaanitic tribes. He was a prince of Judah, not a servant. Obed-Edom was a first generation immigrant from the Philistines; he was originally from Gath, a compatriot of Goliath. He was appointed worship leader in the Temple. Certainly not a servant.

I am afraid, some of your practical theology may be rather based on modern politics than on the plain Biblical text.”

Misunderstander 2 writes, “Not all the individuals the Israelites made to serve them were guilty of a crime, but they were part of the spoils of war.”

Bo says, “To the contrary, they WERE guilty of a crime. They were Canaanites, the original inhabitants of the land, who were able to trick the Israelites into making a covenant with them. As Canaanites, they were guilty of the crimes that God condemned all Canaan for, but they got grace.

Again, those were not immigrants. Those were the original inhabitants of the land. As to immigrants, there was absolutely no rule about their immigration. There was only the rule about citizenship, and that was only about SOME of the cultures, not all. Ammonites and Moabites took ten generations to become citizens, Edomites and Egyptians took three generations. Everyone else could become a citizen upon conversion. And that was only about citizenship. Immigration was open to all.”

Hopefully, this will help us all remember, and understand God’s law better.