Exodus 22

Of theft, v.1, etc. Of the hurt any ones beast doth in another mans ground, 5. of hurt coming by fire, 6. of hurt coming to goods, committed to ones trust, or keeping, 7. of hurt befalling things borrowed,14. Of a maid seduced to commit whoredome, 16. of sorcery, or whitchcraft, 18. of uncleanness with beasts, 19. of Idolatry, 20. that none shall hurt strangers, widdows, and orphans, 21. of usury, 25. of pawning clothes, 26.honouring Magistrates, 28. of the first-fruits, 29. of eating flesh torn by beasts, 31.

1. When any one stealeth an oxe, or small cattel, and slayeth it, the same shall give back five oxen for one oxe, and four sheep for (one of the ) small cattel.

2. If a thief be found in digging thorow, [As Mat.24.53. Heb. in the digging thorow, or, with a thorow-digging, (under-mining Instrument)] and he (come to) be beaten, that he die, it shall be no blood-guiltiness to him [Heb. it shall be no bloods (in the plural, Sanguines) to him. To him, viz. that killed the thief : it shall not be imputed to him, he shall not answer, nor suffer for it , as if he had committed a murther.Thus the word Bloods (sanguines) is taken, Numb. 35.27. and elsewhere.]

3. If the Sun be risen over him, [viz.Over the thief while he is beaten] then it shall be blood-giiltiness to him : [viz. that killed him : The meaning is, If it be bright day, or the Sun be fully up once, when the thief is breaking in ; whoso kills him then,his blood must be shed again] he shall perfectly restore it : [Heb. restoring restore ; He, viz. the thief mentioned, verse 1. whose case is prosecuted here] if he have nothing, he shall be sold for his thievery.

4. If the theft be surely found, [Heb. being found be found] alive in his hand ; [i.e. with him, whether it be in his house, or stable , or ground, before he have slain or sold it] be it oxe, or asse] or small cattel ; he shall restore it double.

5. When any causeth a field or vineyard to be eaten up , [Understand this likewise of gardens, orchards, nurceries, meadows, and the like] and he drive his beast (into it ), that it may feed in another mans (field ), he shall make restitution of the best of his (own) field, and of the best of his vineyard.

6. When a fire cometh out , and seiseth [Heb. findeth] the thorns, [or, straw, or hay, or some such like combustible matter] so that the corn-stack, or the standing corn, or the field,, shall be consumed : he that set it on fire, shall restore it compleately.

7. When any one giveth his neighbour money, or vessels [i.e. any kinde of houshold-stuff] in custody, (or,to keep), and it ( cometh to ) stoln out of that mans house ; if the thief be found, he shall restore it double.

8. If the thief be not found, the matter of the house shall be brought to the Gods, [i.e. The Magistrates, as Exod.21.6.] whether we have not laid his hand on his neighbours goods. [understand, to search and try it]

9. In all cases of wrong, about an oxe, about an asse, about small cattel, about clothes, about every lost (thing) which any one saith ( or, claimeth) to be his : [oth. who saith that it is that , or, he is it] the case of both [plaintiff and defendant] shall come before the Gods .he whom the Gods do sentence, (or, convince), he shall restore it double to his neighbour.

10. When any one giveth an asse, or an oxe, or small cattel, or any beast in custody to his neighbour ; [viz. for money] and it (cometh to ) die, or to be hurt , or driven away , that none seeth it ; [to witnesse the fact.]

11. The the oath of the LORD [i.e. The oath whereby God is called upon as witnesse] shall be betwixt them both , whether he have not laid his hands on his neighbours goods : and the master thereof shall accept of (the same) , [i.e. content himself, and rest satisfied with that oath] and he [viz. the keeper, that had the goods in custody] shall not restore it .

12. But if it be surely stoln by him,[Heb. stealing stoln] he shall restore it to its matter.

13. If it be surely torn, let him bring it [i.e.something, or part of that which is torn , as Amos 3:12.] for witness : then he shall not restore what is torn.

14. And when any one , desireth something of his neighbour , [understand , and that his neighbour lets him have it , or lends it him] and it (comes ) be hurt , or dieth, its master not being by, he shall restore it compleately. [Heb. he shall restoring restore it ; i.e. pay it and make it good .]

15. If his master were by it , he shall not restore it : if it were hired , it came for its hire. [i.e. he that hired it ought to be free , paying the conditioned hire.]

16. Now, when any one enticeth a maid , that is not betrothed, and he lie with her , [To lie with a betrothed one was death , Deut.22.23.] he shall without delay give her a dowry, for to be his wife.

17. If her father utterly refuse [Heb. refusing refuse] to give her unto him, then he shall give money, [Heb.weigh, according to the custome of those days , weighing their paiments one to another]ccording to a dowry of Virgins . [this was fifty silverlings, or shekels of silver , Deuteronomy 22:29. about twelve Rix-dollars, and an half. ( two pound sixteen shillings three pence.)]

18. The Witch thou shalt not suffer to live. [Nor the man that practiseth witchcraft, Deuteronomy 18:10.]

19. Whosoever lieth with a beast , he shall surely be put to death . [Leviticus 20:15. God commands that beast likewise to be put to death.]

20. He that sacrifiseth to the Gods, [Under the tearm of offering sacrifice , there must be understood likewise all manner of other service and worship, Deuteronomy 17:3.] besides the LORD alone , the same shall be excommunicated, ( or,anathematized). [i.e. he shall be held accursed, and he shall be destroyed, or rooted out .]

21. Neither shalt thou over-burthen the stranger, nor oppress him : for ye have been strangers in the land of Egypt .

22. Ye shall afflict no widdow, nor fatherless.

23. If thou afflict them any way , [Heb. afflicting afflict them] and if they cry unto me in any kinde , [or, earnestly ; Heb. crying cry] I shall surely hear [Heb. hearing hear, ( exaudiendo exaudiam)] their cry. [oth. his cry.]

24. And my anger shall be kindled and I shall slay you with the sword : and your wies shall become widdows , and your children fatherless .

25. If thou lend money to my people that are poor with thee , thou shalt not be towards the same, as an usurer : thou shalt lay no usury [The Hebrew word Neschech hath its signification from biting ; usury biting , consuming and devouring poor people] upon the same .

26. If in any sort thou take in pawn [Heb. if taking in pawn thou take in pawn] the garment [understand likewise the coering] of thy neighbour ; [under stand withal , if he be so poor , that he have but one garment to put on or cover himself with, as appears verse 27 . and Deuteronomy 24:12,13.] thou shalt restore it to him, before, [or, against, the while] the Sun goeth down .[Heb. goeth in ; viz. Into her bed-chamber as it were, as David expresseth it , Psalms 19:6.]

27. For that only is his covering, it is his garment over his skin : wherein should he lie? it shall come to pass then, when he crieth to me, that I shall hear it, for I am gracious.

28. Thou shalt not curse the Gods : [See Exod.21.6. and understand hereby the Heards and Governours as well as Ecclesiastical as Civil of that time : as appears by the words of Paul, Acts 23:3.] and the chief in thy people, thou shalt not revile.

29. Thy fulness [i.e. Thy fully-ripe fruits, or the fruits being full and ripe, as Numb. 18.27.] and thy tears [thus the wine and oil is called , because of their trickling and running forth, being prest] thou shalt not put off : [understand ; but thou shalt pay, or offer them to me in due time] The first-born of thy sons thou shalt give unto me. [or, redeem with five shekels of silver, which were to be given to the Priests of the LORD, Numb.18.16.]

30. The like shalt thou do with thine oxe, (and) with thy sheep : seven days thou shall be with their mother , (or, dam) on the eighth day thou shalt give them unto mee.

31. Ye now shall be holy (folks) unto me : [Heb. Men of holiness ; i.e. a people leading a more holy, and pious life then all other people and nations] thorefore ye shall eat no flesh, that is torn in the field, [Lev.17.15. there are added hereunto, such beasts as die of themselves.] ye shall cast it o the Dog.