_A.M. 2513. B.C. 1491._ The laws of this chapter relate, (1,) _ To the eighth commandment, concerning theft, Exodus 22:1. Trespass by cattle, Exodus 22:5. Damage by fire, Exodus 22:6. Trusts, Exodus 22:7. Borrowing cattle, Exodus 22:14; Exodus 22:15. Or money, Exodus 22:25._ (2,) To the seventh co... [ Continue Reading ]
_Five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep_ More for an ox than for a sheep, because the owner, besides all the other profit, lost the daily labour of his ox. If he were not able to make restitution, he was to be sold for a slave: the court of judgment was to do it, and it is likely the person... [ Continue Reading ]
_If a thief_ broke into a house in the night, and was killed in the doing it, his blood was upon his own head; but if it were in the day-time that the thief was killed, he that killed him was accountable for it, unless it were in the necessary defence of his own life.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he should make full restitution_ This the law determined: not that he should die. _In his hand alive_ Not killed, nor sold, as Exodus 22:1, so that the owner recover it with less charge and trouble.... [ Continue Reading ]
He that wilfully put his cattle into his neighbour's field, must make restitution of the best of his own. The Jews hence observed it as a general rule, that restitution must always be made of the best; and that no man should keep any cattle that were likely to trespass upon his neighbour, or do him... [ Continue Reading ]
He that designed only the burning of _thorns_ might become accessary to the burning of corn, and should not be _held guiltless._ If the fire _did mischief_, he that kindled it must answer for it, though it could not be proved that he _designed_ the _mischief._ Men must suffer for their _carelessness... [ Continue Reading ]
_If a man deliver_ goods, suppose to a carrier to be conveyed, or to a warehouse-keeper to be preserved, or cattle to a farmer to be fed, upon a valuable consideration, and a special confidence reposed in the person they are lodged with, in case these goods be stolen or lost, perish or be damaged, i... [ Continue Reading ]
If a man (suppose) lent his team to his neighbour, if the owner were with it, or were to receive profit for the loan of it, whatever harm befell the cattle the owner must stand to the loss of it; but if the owner were so kind to the borrower as to lend it him _gratis_, and put such a confidence in h... [ Continue Reading ]
_If the father refuse, he shall pay money_ This shows how ill a thing it is, and by no means to be allowed, that children should marry without their parents' consent: even here, where the divine law appointed the marriage, both as a punishment to him that had done wrong, and a recompense to her that... [ Continue Reading ]
Witchcraft not only gives that honour to the devil which is due to God alone, but bids defiance to the divine providence, wages war with God's government, puts his work into the devil's hand, expecting him to do good and evil. By our law, consulting, covenanting with, invocating, or employing any ev... [ Continue Reading ]
_A stranger_ must not be abused, not wronged in judgment by the magistrates, not imposed upon in contracts, nor any advantage taken of his ignorance or necessity, no, nor must he be taunted, or upbraided with his being a stranger; for all these were _vexatious. For ye were strangers in Egypt_ And kn... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall not afflict the widow, or fatherless child_ That is, ye shall comfort and assist them, and be ready upon all occasions to show them kindness. In making just demands from them, their condition must be considered who have lost those that should protect them; and no advantage must be taken ag... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thou lend_ 1st, They must not receive use for money from any Israelite that borrowed for necessity. And such provision the law made for the preserving estates to their families by the years of jubilee, that a people who had little concern in trade could not be supposed to borrow money but for ne... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not revile the gods_ That is, the judges and magistrates. Princes and magistrates are our fathers, whom the fifth commandment obligeth us to honour, and forbids us to _revile._ St. Paul applies this law to himself, and owns that he ought not to _speak evil of the ruler of his people_, no... [ Continue Reading ]
_The firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me_ And much more reason have we to give ourselves and all we have to God, who _spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all._ The first ripe of their corn they must _not delay_ to offer; there is danger if we _delay_ our duty, lest we wholl... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall be holy unto me_ And one mark of that honourable distinction is appointed in their diet, which was, that they should not _eat any flesh that was torn of beasts_ Both because the blood was not duly taken out of it, and because the clean beast was ceremonially defiled by the touch of the unc... [ Continue Reading ]