Exodus 22

Exodus 22:1-31

Exodus 21:1-36; Exodus 22:1-31; Exodus 23:1-33; Exodus 24:1-18II. The Lesser Law (Exodus 21:1-36; Exodus 22:1-31; Exodus 23:1-33; Exodus 24:1-18) This is the civil code of Israel and is really a concrete presentation and application of the laws contained in the Decalogue, particularly the second table. It is in a sense a minor Decalogue. The contents of this Lesser Law may be summed up in seven divisions.

Exodus 22:16-31

Exodus 22:16-314. Sins against Nature and Humanity (Exodus 22:16-31) Probably the entire spiritual character of the Decalogue is involved in this section. First is the sin of seduction and bestiality (Exodus 22:16-20); then the oppression of the stranger, the widow and orphan (Exodus 22:21-24); the sin of witchcraft and spiritualism (Exodus 22:18). Care is to be exercised by God’ s people in the matter of money lending (Exodus 22:25-27). Interest seems to be allowed from the rich and strangers but not from the poor. The question here is not of lending money for commercial purposes, but to supply the need of the poor. No man should take advantage of his neighbor’ s necessity.