Translations:Does Biblical law really allow a father to sell his daughter into slavery?/6/en

This law gave poor families who had economic difficulties an option to obtain the bridewealth early and allow the daughter to be economically supported by her future in-laws. Until the actual betrothal (the law refers to a status preliminary to betrothal: "designated"), the daughter would have the status of a covenant-member servant, with all the usual legal protections in Biblical law (she couldn't be "sold"/transferred to someone else), with the exception that she would not be "freed" (sent away either to fend for herself or return to her family) on the seventh year like "men-servants" were.