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Exodus

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Exodus 22

Commentary · verses 1-31

This chapter continued the presentation of God's other laws: specifically the interaction between the individual and property, living and not living.

Commentary · verses 1-4

Verses 1-4: Restitution required in cases of theft.

1If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

1If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

Commentary · verse 1

The "four sheep for a sheep" law was used by David when Nathan confronted him about his adultery with Bath-sheba (2 Samuel 12:1-6).

2If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.

3If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him; he shall make restitution: if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

4If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall pay double.

2If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.

3If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

4If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.

Commentary · verses 5-8

Verses 5-8: Further application of the principle of restitution.

5If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall let his beast loose, and it feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.

6If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

7If a man shall deliver unto his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, he shall pay double.

8If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods.

5If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.

6If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

7If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.

8If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods.

Commentary · verses 9-13

Verses 9-13: More application for restitution.

9For every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, whereof one saith, This is it, the cause of both parties shall come before God; he whom God shall condemn shall pay double unto his neighbor.

9For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.

Commentary · verse 9

Double payment was required for trespass of property.

10If a man deliver unto his neighbor an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it: 11the oath of Jehovah shall be between them both, whether he hath not put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods; and the owner thereof shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.

12But if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.

13If it be torn in pieces, let him bring it for witness: he shall not make good that which was torn.

10If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:

11Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.

12And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.

13If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.

Commentary · verses 14-15

Verses 14-15: Restitution applied to borrowing and lending.

14And if a man borrow aught of his neighbor, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof not being with it, he shall surely make restitution.

15If the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be a hired thing, it came for its hire.

14And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.

15But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.

Commentary · verses 16-17

Verses 16-17: The solution to a man enticing a virgin to lie with him.

16And if a man entice a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife.

16And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.

Commentary · verse 16

Sexual intercourse was marriage if it was consensual.

Doctrines on this passage

17If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

17If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

Commentary · verses 18-20

Verses 18-20: Three capital crimes.

18Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live.

18Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Commentary · verse 18

A sorceress was a witch.

19Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.

20He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto Jehovah only, shall be utterly destroyed.

19Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.

20He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

Commentary · verse 20

Sacrificing to another god other than Jehovah was fornication. Fornication meant "to commit idolatry." Idolatry was "giving one's self to an image." Sexual intercourse with an unbeliever was also fornication because a person was forming a covenant with another god through the unbeliever. Fornication was unbelief: forming covenants with other gods either directly or through forming covenants (sexual intercourse) with unbelievers. Unbelievers were people who were in covenant with other gods.

Commentary · verses 21-27

Verses 21-27: Mercy and compassion for the poor and weak.

21And a sojourner shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him: for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

21Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Commentary · verse 21

They were reminded about how they were treated in Egypt in regards to how they should treat other "sojourners."

22Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

23If thou afflict them at all, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;

22Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

23If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;

Commentary · verse 23

God would hear the cries of affliction from widows and orphans.

24and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

24And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

Commentary · verse 24

This was God's equaling out Justice.

25If thou lend money to any of my people with thee that is poor, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor; neither shall ye lay upon him interest.

26If thou at all take thy neighbor’s garment to pledge, thou shalt restore it unto him before the sun goeth down: 27for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.

25If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

26If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:

27For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.

Commentary · verses 28-31

Verses 28-31: Laws regarding holiness and separation unto God.

28Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people.

28Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Commentary · verse 28

They were told not to curse their ruler. Paul referenced this verse in Acts 23:5 when he appeared before the high priest Ananias and the council before being sent to Rome.

29Thou shalt not delay to offer of thy harvest, and of the outflow of thy presses. The first-born of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.

30Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with its dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

31And ye shall be holy men unto me: therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.

29Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.

30Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

31And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.

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