Exodus 22

Exodus 22:1-6

The laws of this chapter relate, 1. To the right commandment, concerning theft, ver. 1—4. Freight by cattle, ver. 5. Damage by fire, ver. 6. Traffic, ver. 7—13. Borrowing cattle, ver. 14, 15. or money, ver. 15—27. 2. To the seventh commandment. Against fornication, ver. 16, 17. Defeating, ver. 19. 3. To the first while, furnishing witchcraft, ver. 18. Idolatry, ver. 20. Commanding to offer the first-freast, ver. 29, 30. 4. To the poor, ver. 21—24. 5. To the civil government, ver. 28. 6. To the peculiarity of the ‘foresh nation, ver. 31.

1. If a man shall steal an ox or a sheep, and kill it, or fell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2. ¶ If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he dies, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3. If 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. 4. If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ash, or sheep; he shall restore double. 5. ¶ If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beall, and shall feed in another man’s field; of the beall of his own field, and of the beall of his own vineyard shall he make restitution. 6. ¶ If 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.

Laws concerning theft, 1. For an ox stolen, if killed, or sold, five must be restored; for a sheep, four; if found alive, in his custody, double. If the thief hath nothing to pay, he must be sold for a slave. Note, No man was ever at left the richer, for what he got by thorning. 2. If a thief broke a house at night, and was killed, no blood was to be shed for him; but if in the day, unless in self-defence, he that few him was answerable for it. Observe, we should be tender, even to shed the blood of a robber. 3. Concerning trespass, v. 5. Restitution must be made of our bed. 4. For fire found by thorns, though unassigned, damages must be made good, v. 6. Those who by rattling, slander, &c. injure their neighbour, though they may plead they did not intend harm, will find in God’s court a severe account laid for idle words.

7. ¶ If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or shall to keep, and it be shone out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, let him pay double. 8. If the thief be not found, then the matter of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand

Or put. 1. See vi. 2. Law 3. 8. See Note, vi. 10. hand used his neighbour’s goods. 9. For all manner of crepals, whether it be for ox, for as, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of left things which another challenged to be his: the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and when the judges shall conform, he shall pay double unto his neighbour. 10. If a man deliver unto his neighbour an as, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beak to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or shiven away, no man seeing it. 11. Then 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 a good. 12. And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof. 13. If it be torn in pieces; due he him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn. 14. And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof does not wish it, he shall surely make a good. 15. But if the owner thereof he wish it, he shall not make a good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire. 16. 7-25. Farther laws are given. 1. Concerning truth. If ought be left or stolen, and the thief be found, or the traitor privy to it, he shall pay double. If he prove his innocence by evidence, or oath, before the judges to their satisfaction, he should be free. Note. (1.) To betray a truth, it is to add ingratitude to injustice. (2.) The great dishonesty of the world makes oaths necessary. (3.) A man must be advanced to a daring pitch of wickedness, that can solemnly make a false appeal to the avenging God. 2. Concerning loans, v. 14. 15. If a man hired ought, and the owner was with it, the care was reposed on him. If it was lent forcibly, and received injury, it was to be made good. What we borrow, we should be twice careful of, out of gratitude to the leader. 16. ¶ And if a man enclose a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her; he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17. If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. 18. ¶ Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. 19. ¶ Whoever lieth with a beall, shall surely be put to death. 20. ¶ He that farthesteth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed. 21. ¶ Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 22:16-21

We have. 1. The restitution to be made to a maiden, who should be debuached. The person must marry her; or if her father relisted his comfort, make her a satisfaction in money. 2. Three capital crimes; witchcraft, buggery, and idolatry. They who forlike God in spirit, or thus abute their own bodies, are no longer fit to live. 22. ¶ Ye shall not affect any widow, or fatherless child. 23. If thou afflict them in any wife, and they cry at all unto me: I will surely hear their cry. 24. And my wrath shall wax her, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. 25. If thou lend money to any of my people dear to poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. 26. If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the son goeth down: 27. For that it 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.

Exodus 22:22-27

1. Strangers must not be oppressed, v. 21. neither advantage taken of their ignorance, or partially flown to them in judgment; or any affront or unkindness offered them. Strangers have a double title to our protection and humanity, as from their circumstances they must be more repulsed, and liable to imposition or oppression. 2. The fatherless and widows are under God’s peculiar care: woe to those who give cause for their cries, by unkindness to them, or by any injuries done them. If among men they find no helper, God will be the arogacy of all such. 3. A law against usury. It was wholly sophisticated among the Jews, though allowed respecting strangers. All exposed premiums, or exorbitant gain from loans to the revergencies, are contrary not only to the laws of God, but prinificates also by the judges. But if he who borrows, does it to make a more considerable advantage to himself, it is so reasonable he should pay for the use of money, as of land. 4. Against remaining cloaths for a pledge, v. 26, 27. When we lie within our selves, let us remember those who want cloaths to experiment and never add affliction to the needy, but shalt how to relieve it. 28. ¶ Thou shalt not revile the good, nor curse the ruler of thy people. 29. ¶ Thou shalt not delay or offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the first-born of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. 30. Like with shalt thou do with thine stems, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me. 31. ¶ And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye set any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field: ye shall cast it to the dogs.

Exodus 22:28-31

1. A law against contempt of magistrates, v. 28. They are cloaked with their character from God. To oppose or revile them, is to revile and oppose the ordinance of God. Note. A faithful magistrate must expect malignant tongues. 2. Concerning the first-fruits, v. 29-30. They must not delay to offer them: nothing so dangerous as procrastination: how many foals have perished, by putting off to a mere conscientious fashion, what present duty required? Happy they, who offer their youngest days to God, and devote to him not the dregs of age, but the prime of life. 3. They must not eat what was torn of beasts, v. 31. For they are holy: they must remember their dignity. A christian will no more do a meat and bake thing, than a sinful one.