Alienable Rights in the Bible

Apparently, the Old Testament doesn't believe in the inalienability of the rights to life and liberty. An “inalienable right” is a right that “cannot be bartered away, or given away, or taken away except in punishment of crime.” Butchers’ Union Slaughter-House and Live-Stock Landing Co. v. Crescent City Co., 111 U.S. 746, 756-57 (1884) (Field, J concurring). In Leviticus, Moses wrote that Israelites could take foreign slaves, and that the slaves would descend as property. He also wrote that an Israelite could sell him- or herself into slavery, but could redeem their freedom at certain times.

“If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors. Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God. Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly. If a foreigner residing among you becomes rich and any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to the foreigner or to a member of the foreigner’s clan, they retain the right of redemption after they have sold themselves.” 

Leviticus 25:39-48.