CHAPTER XXII _Laws concerning_ theft, 1-4; _concerning_ trespass, 5; _concerning_ casualties, 6. _Laws concerning_ deposits, _or goods left in custody of others_, _which may have been_ lost, stolen, _or_ damaged, 7-13. _Laws concerning things_ borrowed _or let out on_ hire, 14, 15. _Laws conc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:2. _IF A THIEF BE FOUND_] If a thief was found breaking into a house in the night season, he might be killed; but not if the sun had risen, for then he might be known and taken, and the restitution made which is mentioned in the succeeding verse. So by the law of England it is a bur... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:4. _HE SHALL RESTORE DOUBLE._] In no case of theft was the life of the offender taken away; the utmost that the law says on this point is, that, if when _found breaking into a house, he_ _should be smitten so as to die, no blood should be shed for him_; Exodus 22:2. If he had _stolen... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:6. _IF FIRE BREAK OUT_] Mr. Harmer observes that it is a common custom in the east to set the dry herbage on fire before the autumnal rains, which fires, for want of care, often do great damage: and in countries where great drought prevails, and the herbage is generally parched, grea... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:7. _DELIVER UNTO HIS NEIGHBOUR_] This is called _pledging_ in the law of _bailments_; it is a deposit of goods by a debtor to his creditor, to be kept till the debt be discharged. Whatever goods were thus left in the hands of another person, that person, according to the Mosaic law,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:8. _UNTO THE JUDGES_] Exodus 21:6, Exodus 21:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:9. _CHALLENGETH TO BE HIS_] It was necessary that such a matter should come before the judges, because the person in whose possession the goods were found might have had them by a fair and honest purchase; and, by sifting the business, the thief might be found out, and if found, be o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:11. _AN OATH OF THE LORD BE BETWEEN THEM_] So solemn and awful were all appeals to God considered in those ancient times, that it was taken for granted that the man was innocent who could by an oath appeal to the omniscient God that he had not put his hand to his neighbour's goods. S... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:13. _IF IT BE TORN IN PIECES - LET HIM BRING IT_ FOR _WITNESS_] Rather, _Let him bring_ עד הטרפה ed hatterephah, a testimony or _evidence of the torn thing_, such as the _horns, hoofs_, c. This is still a law in some countries among graziers: if a horse, cow, sheep, or goat, intrust... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:16. _IF A MAN ENTICE A MAID_] This was an exceedingly wise and humane law, and must have operated powerfully against seduction and fornication; because the person who might feel inclined to take the advantage of a young woman knew that he must marry her, and give her a dowry, if her... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:18. _THOU SHALT NOT SUFFER A WITCH TO LIVE._] If there had been no _witches_, such a law as this had never been made. The existence of the _law_, given under the direction of the Spirit of God, proves the existence of the _thing_. It has been doubted whether מכשפה _mecash-shephah_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:19. _LIETH WITH A BEAST_] If this most abominable crime had not been common, it never would have been mentioned in a sacred code of laws. It is very likely that it was an _Egyptian_ practice; and it is certain, from an account in Sonnini's Travels, that it is practised in Egypt to th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:20. _UTTERLY DESTROYED._] The word חרם _cherem_ denotes a thing utterly and finally separated from God and devoted to destruction, without the possibility of redemption.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:21. _THOU SHALT NEITHER VEX A STRANGER, NOR OPPRESS HIM_] This was not only a very _humane_ law, but it was also the offspring of a sound policy: "_Do not vex a stranger_; remember ye were strangers. Do not _oppress_ a stranger; remember ye were _oppressed_. Therefore do unto all men... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:22. _YE SHALL NOT AFFLICT ANY WIDOW, OR FATHERLESS CHILD._] It is remarkable that offences against this law are not left to the discretion of the _judges_ to be _punished_; God reserves the punishment to himself, and by this he strongly shows his abhorrence of the crime. It is no com... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:25. _NEITHER SHALT THOU LAY UPON HIM USURY._] נשך _neshech_, from _nashach_, to _bite, cut_, or _pierce_ with the _teeth; biting usury_. So the Latins call it _usura vorax,_ _devouring usury_. "The increase of usury is called נשך _neshech_, because it resembles the biting of a serpen... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:26. _IF THOU - TAKE THY NEIGHBOUR'S RAIMENT TO PLEDGE_] It seems strange that any pledge should be taken which must be so _speedily_ restored; but it is very likely that the pledge was restored by _night_ only, and that he who pledged it brought it back to his creditor next morning.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:28. _THOU SHALT NOT REVILE THE GODS_] Most commentators believe that the word _gods_ here means _magistrates_. The original is אלהים _Elohim_, and should be understood of the true God only: _Thou shalt not blaspheme or make light of_ [תקלל tekallel] _God_, the fountain of justice an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:29. _THE FIRST OF THY RIPE FRUITS_] This offering was a public acknowledgment of the bounty and goodness of God, who had given them their proper _seed time_, the _first_ and the _latter rain_, and the _appointed weeks of harvest_. From the practice of the people of God the heathens... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:30. _SEVEN DAYS IT SHALL BE WITH HIS DAM_] For the _mother's_ _health_ it was necessary that the young one should suck so long; and prior to this time the process of nutrition in a young animal can scarcely be considered as completely formed. Among the Romans _lambs_ were not conside... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 22:31. _NEITHER SHALL YE EAT - FLESH - TORN OF BEASTS IN THE_ _FIELD_] This has been supposed to be an ordinance against eating flesh cut off the animal while alive, and so the Syriac seems to have understood it. If we can credit Mr. Bruce, this is a frequent custom in Abyssinia; but h... [ Continue Reading ]