“As one of the results of this inquiry, it is apparent that the Hebrews were not a nation of slaveholders.” We present these passages to shows Mr. Barnes’s mode of argument. But let us examine, for a moment, the indications of the holy books on the subject of runaway slaves. When David had protected the flocks of Nabal, upon the mountains of Carmel, on a holiday, he sent his young men, to ask a present, as some compensation for the same. “And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? There be many servants ( _abadim_, _slaves_) nowadays that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give _it_ unto men, whom I know not whence they be?” 1 _Sam._ xxv. 10, 11. We think the indications are that for slaves to run away was a common occurrence, and that it was immoral to give them countenance or protection and Nabal, pretending that David might be one of that class, excused himself from bestowing the present on that account. “And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants (עֲבָדִים _abadim_, _slaves_) of Shemei ran away unto Achish, son of Maachah king of Gath; and they told Shemei, saying, Behold thy servants (עֲבָדֶיךָ, _abadeka_, _slaves_) _be_ in Gath. And Shemei arose and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants (עֲבָדָ֑יו _abadav_, _slaves_); and Shemei went and brought his servants (עבָדָיו _abadav_, _slaves_) from Gath.” 1 _Kings_, ii. 39, 40. If it can be said that Jehovah has views and wishes, then it may he said, that the views and wishes of Jehovah on the subject of runaway slaves must, at all times, be the same. “In him there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.” “And she had a _hand-maid_ (שִׁפְחַה _shiphehah_, _female slave_), an Egyptian (מִצְרִית _mitserith_, _Egyptian_, _a descendant of Misraim, the second son of Ham_), whose name was Hagar.” _Gen._ xvi. 1. Upon a feud between her and her mistress, her mistress dealt hardly by her, and she ran away: “And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.” (8th verse,) “And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence comest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.” (The angel did not say to her, “Here is a shilling; get into Canada as soon as possible!”) “And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress and submit thyself under her hands.” _Gen._ xvi. 7–9. On page 117, Mr. Barnes says— “In the laws of Moses, there is but one way mentioned by which a foreigner could be made a slave; that is, by purchase. _Lev._ xxv. 44. And it is remarkable that the Hebrews were not permitted to make slaves of the captives taken in war.” Let us compare this assertion, made by Mr. Barnes, with the 31st of Numbers: