Deuteronomy 22:1-4

XXII.

Deuteronomy 22:1. LOST PROPERTY.

(1) Go astray. — Literally, being driven away, as by wild beasts (Jeremiah 1:17), or by robbers. It is not simply straying. “I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away” (Ezekiel 34:16), and so in many other passages.

Thou shalt not... hide thyself from them. — Comp. Proverbs 24:12. “If thou sayest, Behold we knew it not... doth not He know it?” And Isaiah 58:7, “that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh.”

(3) In like manner... with all lost thing of thy brother’s. — This is only a particular case of the second great commandment. “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

(4) Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down... and hide thyself. — In Exodus 23:4, this is put even more strongly. “If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden... thou shalt surely help with him.”