Reading Plan · Day 23
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
Exodus 19-21
Day 23
Previously · Day 22 · Exodus 16-18
The previous day's reading documented God's maturing of the children of Israel to the "social age" through their conflict with the Amalekites. God also spoke to Moses through Jethro in order to provide the structure that would allow Moses to spend more time with God and less time dealing with the day-to-day issues.
Day 23 Read
Where You Stopped
Exodus 19
1In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.
1In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.
Commentary · verse 1
2And when they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount.
2For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
Commentary · verse 2
Israel would stay in the wilderness of Sinai until Numbers 10. There were over 57 chapters of scripture dedicated to what happened to Israel in the year they camped at Mount Sinai.
3And Moses went up unto God, and Jehovah called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
3And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
Commentary · verse 3
Moses went up to God.
4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine:
4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Commentary · verses 4-5
Notice, God used an if/then statement. It was up to the people to obey God's Voice and keep His Covenant in order for them to be God's own people. Here was the background on covenants:
In the Old Testament, the word for "covenant" was "beriyth" (Strong's #1285). The entry in Strong's Concordance stated: "from Strong's #1262 (in the sense of cutting [like Strong's #1254]); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh): - confederacy, covenant, league."
There were five parts to a covenant. For the complete explanation, look at Genesis 9:17. The first part was "passing through." In Exodus 14, we saw Israel passed through the Red Sea. The second part of a covenant was "agreement" where both parties must state they are in agreement with the terms of the covenant.
6and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Jehovah commanded him.
8And all the people answered together, and said, All that Jehovah hath spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah.
6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
8And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Commentary · verses 6-8
Covenant Part 2: The people agreed to the deal with God. The third part of a covenant was "sharing."
Doctrines on this passage
9And Jehovah said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may also believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto Jehovah.
10And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments,
9And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
10And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
Commentary · verses 9-10
Moses was told to sanctify the people.
11and be ready against the third day; for the third day Jehovah will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
12And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: 13no hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, he shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
11And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
12And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
13There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
Commentary · verses 11-13
Setting "bounds" meant to set a boundary for the people.
14And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their garments.
15And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not near a woman.
16And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled.
14And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
15And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
16And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
Commentary · verses 14-16
It's no wonder the people trembled in response to this powerful event. This experience would have greatly affected their senses: thunders and lightnings - hearing and seeing; thick cloud - feeling and seeing; exceeding loud trumpet - hearing.
17And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
17And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Commentary · verses 17-18
Remember, during Abram's Covenant with God in Genesis 15, a smoking furnace passed between bloody, furry flesh. This may have even affected their sense of smell, causing the impact of this event to be even greater.
19And when the voice of the trumpet waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
20And Jehovah came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount: and Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
19And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
20And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
Commentary · verses 19-20
Moses went up to God again. Was Aaron with Moses? Did Moses still need a spokesman?
21And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto Jehovah to gaze, and many of them perish.
22And let the priests also, that come near to Jehovah, sanctify themselves, lest Jehovah break forth upon them.
21And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
22And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
Commentary · verses 21-22
God told Moses to warn the people not to force their way through to see the Lord. Even the priests had to be sanctified before they could approach God.
23And Moses said unto Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
24And Jehovah said unto him, Go, get thee down; and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto Jehovah, lest he break forth upon them.
23And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
24And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.
Commentary · verses 23-24
Aaron would join Moses the next time but no priests or other people would be allowed in God's presence.
25So Moses went down unto the people, and told them.
25So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.
Commentary · verse 25
Moses continued to obey God. Would the people?
Where You Stopped
Exodus 20
Commentary · verses 1-26
Exodus chapters 20-23 documented the third part of a covenant: God "sharing" the Law. The fourth part of a covenant was "death."
Commentary · verses 1-3
Verses 1-3: the First Commandment.
1And God spake all these words, saying,
1And God spake all these words, saying,
Commentary · verses 2-17
Verses 2-17: the Ten Commandments.
2I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Commentary · verses 4-6
Verses 4-6: the Second Commandment.
4Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, 6and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Commentary · verse 7
Verse 7: the Third Commandment.
7Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
7Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Commentary · verses 8-11
Verses 8-11: the Fourth Commandment.
8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; 10but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Commentary · verse 11
There were a lot of don't-s. The first three commandments focused on God and the individual. In verse 10, the word "gates" was the Hebrew word "sha `ar" (Strong's #8179) which came from the root word "sha `ar" (Strong's #8176) which meant "to think." Proverbs 23:7 used this word for "thinketh" in: "For as he thinketh within himself, so is he..." The point was that no one from the believer's house could do what the believer thought on the Sabbath. Everyone associated with the believer could only do what the Law told him to do on the Sabbath. There were no loopholes for the believer to be a first cause on the Sabbath. God, via the Law, was the first cause on the Sabbath.
12Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
12Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Commentary · verse 12
Verse 12: the Fifth Commandment.
Verse 12 recorded the only commandment that was a principle and gave a value. This commandment focused on the individual and specific people: mother and father. It did not tell people HOW to honor their father and mother because every father and mother is honored in a way unique to them. A principle presents an objective (WHAT) with a benefit (WHY), however, it does not state specifically HOW to achieve the objective. That was left to the uniqueness of the individual.
The rest of the commandments were laws. A law states a what/how not to do and threatens a penalty (WHY). You do not gain anything by following a law. A law treats everyone the same; it denies uniqueness. The purpose of laws are to prevent chaos and destructive behavior, which was what the righteous in the Book of Genesis constantly encountered.
Commentary · verse 13
Verse 13: the Sixth Commandment.
13Thou shalt not kill.
14Thou shalt not commit adultery.
13Thou shalt not kill.
14Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Commentary · verse 14
Verse 14: the Seventh Commandment.
James 2:11 referenced the previous two verses.
Commentary · verse 15
Verse 15: the Eighth Commandment.
15Thou shalt not steal.
15Thou shalt not steal.
Commentary · verse 16
Verse 16: the Ninth Commandment.
16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.
16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Commentary · verse 17
Verse 17: the Tenth Commandment.
The last six commandments dealt with relationship and community.
Doctrines on this passage
18And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off.
19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
18And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
Commentary · verses 18-19
People asked Moses to speak with them instead of God. This was a critical moment in the history of Israel. God wanted to deal directly with the people. The people asked God to have Moses act as the "middleman." The people wanted to deal directly with Moses as their leader. Was this because they could not threaten and/or try to control God? Obviously, Israel was not mature enough to be led directly by God.
20And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not.
20And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Commentary · verse 20
Moses told them that God had come to help them not sin. The Law ought to have been a benefit.
21And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
22And Jehovah said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
23Ye shall not make other gods with me; gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you.
21And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
22And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
23Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
Commentary · verses 21-23
God wanted no images of Him. He is the real Being, not an inanimate creation of man. Man was made in the image of God. Worshipping an image of God is the same as worshipping man, which is idolatry.
24An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in every place where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee.
25And if thou make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
24An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
25And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
Commentary · verses 24-25
God wanted an altar created without the use of a man-made tool.
26Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon.
26Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
Commentary · verse 26
The rest of the chapters that covered the third part of a Covenant (sharing) focused on specific rules for community. This was a "forced" community. Notice, everyone (regardless of hierarchy within the community) was required to equal out Justice as soon as possible. The members of this community did not have the freedom to determine how or when to respond.
Where You Stopped
Exodus 21
Commentary · verses 1-36
This chapter focused on interactions between individuals.
1Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them.
1Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.
Commentary · verse 1
"Ordinances" meant "judgment; art of deciding a case." These were the laws used to help the Israelites judge between themselves.
Commentary · verses 2-4
Verses 2-4: the general law concerning Hebrew servants (indentured servants).
2If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
3If he come in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he be married, then his wife shall go out with him.
4If his master give him a wife and she bear him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.
2If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
3If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
4If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.
Commentary · verse 4
There were four basic ways that a Hebrew might have become a servant to another Hebrew:
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in extreme poverty, they may sell their freedom (Leviticus 25:39)
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a father might sell his children into servitude (Exodus 21:7)
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in a case of bankruptcy, a man may have become a servant to the people he owed (2 Kings 4:1)
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if a thief had nothing of which to pay restitution (Exodus 22:3-4)
5But if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: 6then his master shall bring him unto God, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.
5And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
6Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
Commentary · verses 5-6
People could choose to remain a bond-servant and a ceremony was conducted for such an event.
7And if a man sell his daughter to be a maid-servant, she shall not go out as the men-servants do.
8If she please not her master, who hath espoused her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a foreign people he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
7And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
8If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
Commentary · verses 7-8
The wife could not be sent out of community to a strange nation. The wife was in the greater community (Israel) if she was in community through marriage with an Israelite.
9And if he espouse her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.
10If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
9And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.
10If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
Commentary · verses 9-10
If a man took another woman as wife, it must not negatively affect the first wife.
11And if he do not these three things unto her, then shall she go out for nothing, without money.
11And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.
Commentary · verse 11
If the man broke this Covenant because he did not do his part, she could end this Covenant, and she was free to go.
12He that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death.
13And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
14And if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
15And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
16And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
12He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
13And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
14But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
15And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
16And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Commentary · verses 12-16
This verse banned slavery: selling people against their will.
17And he that curseth his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
17And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
Commentary · verse 17
Cursing your parents resulted in your death.
18And if men contend, and one smite the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keep his bed; 19if he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.
18And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:
19If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.
Commentary · verses 18-19
This sounded like what we today call "short-term disability."
20And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall surely be punished.
21Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
22And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart, and yet no harm follow; he shall be surely fined, according as the woman’s husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
23But if any harm follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
20And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
21Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
22If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
23And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
24Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Commentary · verses 20-25
The classic statements like, "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" really support the fact that the Dispensation of the Law was meant to equal out Justice immediately (here on Earth). The principle is Justice, the same principle being used when Jesus expanded doctrine in His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus stated this in Matthew 5:39, "but I say unto you, Resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
People often think this is a contradiction between the Old and New Testaments. The misinterpretation here comes from not understanding the underlying principle. Both the Old Testament "eye for eye" statement and Jesus' "turn the other cheek" were founded in Justice. The Law was meant to equal it out now, Jesus intended to help people gain more for their Long Term benefit. Jesus did not say it was wrong to follow "eye for eye" but that it would be better Long Term, in relation to Justice, to "turn the other cheek."
26And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.
27And if he smite out his man-servant’s tooth, or his maid-servant’s tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.
26And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.
27And if he smite out his manservant’s tooth, or his maidservant’s tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.
Commentary · verses 26-27
How often were the servants being struck? Enough where God made laws concerning this. It seems that striking a servant was one way that Justice was immediately being equaled out.
Commentary · verses 28-32
Verses 28-32: laws that determined guilt when an animal killed a human.
28And if an ox gore a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be surely stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.
29But if the ox was wont to gore in time past, and it hath been testified to its owner, and he hath not kept it in, but it hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.
30If there be laid on him a ransom, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
31Whether it have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.
32If the ox gore a man-servant or a maid-servant, there shall be given unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
28If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.
29But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.
30If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
31Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.
32If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
Commentary · verses 33-36
Verses 33-36: more laws concerning negligence and restitution.
33And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein, 34the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money unto the owner thereof, and the dead beast shall be his.
35And if one man’s ox hurt another’s, so that it dieth, then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the price of it; and the dead also they shall divide.
36Or if it be known that the ox was wont to gore in time past, and its owner hath not kept it in; he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his own.
33And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;
34The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.
35And if one man’s ox hurt another’s, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.
36Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.
Commentary · verse 36
Some very specific cases of Justice being equaled out.
This day's reading covered the first three parts of God's Covenant with this reborn nation of Israel. The third part (sharing) consisted of God's introduction of the Ten Commandments and other laws.
Three months after leaving Egypt the Israelites made it to Sinai.