Kevin Rudd (Australian PM) is misinformed on slavery in the Bible - Biblical law is life-giving for slaves too

So the Bible says that slavery is a ‘natural condition’, Kevin Rudd (Prime Minister of Australia)? You are misinformed. Slavery was a central pillar of ancient Near Eastern society – the cultural background for the Old Testament (OT) - so naturally the OT addresses slavery in detail. Yet the OT challenges slave law and custom. Poor families are to be treated generously so that they never fall into slavery (Deuteronomy Ch 15). And slaves must be treated like royalty, or they may flee! (Deut. 23:15-16) Read in their historical context, Old Testament slave laws are life-giving.