The theft of an ox appears to have been regarded as a greater crime than the theft of a sheep, because it showed a stronger purpose in wickedness to take the larger and more powerful animal. It may have been on similar moral ground that the thief, when he had proved his persistency in crime by addin... [ Continue Reading ]
If a thief, in breaking into a dwelling in the night, was slain, the person who slew him did not incur the guilt of blood; but if the same occurred in daylight, the slayer was guilty in accordance with Exodus 21:12. The distinction may have been based on the fact that in the light of day there was a... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL PUT IN HIS BEAST, AND SHALL FEED - Rather, shall let his beast go loose, and it shall feed.... [ Continue Reading ]
It would appear that if the master of the house would clear himself of imputation, the loss of the pledged article fell upon its owner.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL MANNER OF TRESPASS - He who was accused, and he who had lost the stolen property, were both to appear before the judges Exodus 18:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
This law appears to relate chiefly to herdsmen employed by the owners of cattle. When an animal was stolen Exodus 22:12, it was presumed either that the herdsman might have prevented it, or that he could find the thief and bring him to justice (see Exodus 22:4). When an animal was killed by a wild b... [ Continue Reading ]
IT CAME FOR HIS HIRE - The sum paid for hiring was regarded as covering the risk of accident.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the marginal references.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT SUFFER A WITCH TO LIVE - See the marginal references. and Leviticus 20:27. The witch is here named to represent the class. This is the earliest denunciation of witchcraft in the law. In every form of witchcraft there is an appeal to a power not acting in subordination to the divine la... [ Continue Reading ]
This was probably an old formula, the sense of which, on its ethical side, is comprised in the first and second commandments. SHALL BE UTTERLY DESTROYED - The Hebrew word here used is חרם _châram_ (i. e. devoted). See Leviticus 27:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
A STRANGER - See Exodus 20:10 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFFLICT - A word including all cold and contemptuous treatment. See Deuteronomy 10:18. Contrast the blessing, Deuteronomy 14:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Leviticus 25:35; compare Deuteronomy 23:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
The law regarding pledges is expanded, Deuteronomy 24:6, Deuteronomy 24:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GODS - Heb. אלהים _'ělôhı̂ym_. See Exodus 21:6 note. Many take it as the name of God (as in Genesis 1:1), and this certainly seems best to represent the Hebrew, and to suit the context. CURSE THE RULER ... - See Acts 23:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
The offering of firstfruits appears to have been a custom of primitive antiquity and was connected with the earliest acts of sacrifice. See Genesis 4:3. The references to it here and in Exodus 23:19 had probably been handed down from patriarchal times. The specific law relating to the firstborn of l... [ Continue Reading ]
The sanctification of the nation was emphatically symbolized by strictness of diet as regards both the kind of animal, and the mode of slaughtering. See Leviticus 11; Leviticus 17.... [ Continue Reading ]