And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger’s family: (Leviticus 25:47)
An Israelite who had become poor and sold himself into servitude could redeem himself, if able, or be redeemed, even from a nonIsraelite. The price paid varied according to the years remaining until the year of release, for in that year he would automatically go out free. Thus the price paid for a servant and the price paid for his redemption were both reckoned in terms of the length of service before the year of liberty.