III. ISRAEL AT SINAI ( XIX.- XL.). The division Num 19- 40 presents difficulties due to its very importance, _see_ introduction to Ex. (last paragraph). But Num 25- 31, 35- 40 readily fall apart from the rest, as containing P's account of the Tabernacle (_see_ on Exodus 25:1), the introduction to wh... [ Continue Reading ]
EXODUS 22:1 E. THEFT AND DAMAGE. Fourfold restitution was due (Exodus 22:1), as in Roman law and Bedawin custom, for theft of a sheep (though fivefold for the doubly useful ox), reduced to twofold (Exodus 22:4) if returned alive (_i.e._ the stolen animal and another). A similar principle is found in... [ Continue Reading ]
EXODUS 22:7 E. BREACH OF TRUST. A man going on a journey would make his neighbour his banker. If the money or valuables were stolen, the thief, if found, was to pay double (Exodus 22:7); otherwise the surety must purge himself of the crime by oath at the local sanctuary (Exodus 22:8). A similar proc... [ Continue Reading ]
EXODUS 22:18 E. VARIOUS ORDINANCES. From this point up to Exodus 23:9 we have to do with miscellaneous laws, differing in the main both in form and substance from the Judgments, and therefore here regarded as belonging to the Book of the Covenant. But they may have come independently of either code.... [ Continue Reading ]