Exodus 21:32

_IF AN OX GORE A MAN OR A WOMAN, THAT THEY DIE: THEN THE OX SHALL BE SURELY STONED, AND HIS FLESH SHALL NOT BE EATEN; BUT THE OWNER OF THE OX SHALL BE QUIT._ If an ox gore a man. For the purpose of sanctifying human blood, and representing all injuries affecting life in a serious light, an animal that occasioned death was to be killed, or suffer punishment proportioned to the degree of damage it had caused. Verse 29. BUT IF THE OX WERE WONT TO PUSH ... AND IT HATH BEEN TESTIFIED TO HIS OWNER. According to Jewish writers, this notification required to be done three separate times before a magistrate. BUT THAT HE HATH KILLED A MAN OR A WOMAN - who was free (cf. Exodus 21:32). Verse 30. IF THERE BE LAID ON HIM A SUM OF MONEY - as some sort of compensation for the loss of a relative, the amount being determined either by the Go'el, the blood-

32._If the ox shall push a man-servant_. It is not unreasonable that the punishment for the death of a slave should now be set at less than for that of a free-man. As regarded the crime of voluntary murder, there was no distinction between slaves and masters; but in a case of mischance (_delicto_) the severity might in some degree be mitigated; especially when the stoning of the ox sufficiently availed for bringing murder into detestation. God, therefore, showed admirable moderation in condemning the negligence of the master to be punished by the payment of thirty shekels; whilst He proposed the ox as an example, and reminded all by its death, how very precious in His sight is human blood....

22-36 The cases here mentioned give rules of justice then, and still in use, for deciding similar matters. We are taught by these laws, that we must be very careful to do no wrong, either directly or indirectly. If we have done wrong, we must be very willing to make it good, and be desirous that nobody may lose by us....

Verse Exodus 21:32. _THIRTY SHEKELS_] Each worth about three shillings English; see Genesis 20:16. So, counting the shekel at its _utmost_ value, the life of a slave was valued at _four pounds ten_ _shillings_. And at this price these same vile people valued the life of our blessed Lord; see Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15. And in return, the justice of God has ordered it so, that _they have been_ _sold for slaves_ into every country of the universe. And yet, strange to tell, they see not the hand of God in so visible a retribution!...

The animal was slain as a tribute to the sanctity of human life (Compare the marginal references and Genesis 4:11). It was stoned, and its flesh was treated as carrion. Guilty negligence on the part of its owner was reckoned a capital offence, to be commuted for a fine. In the case of a slave, the payment was the standard price of a slave, thirty shekels of silver. See Leviticus 25:44; Leviticus 27:3, and the marginal references for the New Testament application of this fact....

EXPOSITION THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT.—_Continued_. I. _Laws connected with the rights of persons_ (Exodus 21:1). The regulations of this section concern— 1. Slavery (Exodus 21:2); 2. Murder and other kinds of homicide (Exodus 21:12-2 and Exodus 21:20, Exodus 21:21); 3. Man-stealing ...

IF THE OX SHALL PUSH A MANSERVANT, OR A MAIDSERVANT,.... Which the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi interpret of a Canaanitish servant, man or maid; but no doubt the same provision was made for an Hebrew servant, man or maid, as for a Gentile one: HE SHALL GIVE UNTO THEIR MASTER THIRTY SHEKELS OF SILVER; that is, the owner of the ox shall pay so much to the masters of the servants for the loss they have sustained by his ox goring them; and Maimonides r observes, that "the ransom of servants, whether great or small, whether male or female, is fixed in the law, thirty shekels of good silver, whether the servant is worth a hundred pounds, or whether he is worth but a penny.'' This was the price our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was sold at, Matthew 26:15. r Hilchot Niske Maimon, c. 11. sect. 1....

CHAPTER 21 DIFFERENT JUDGMENTS _ 1. Master and servant (Exodus 21:1)_ 2. Concerning injury to the person (Exodus 21:12) 3. Concerning property (Exodus 21:33) The Three Chapter s which follow the giving of the Ten Commandments give the practical application of the Decalogue in the daily life. The duties towards the fellowman are demonstrated in part. There are seven sections to these three Chapter s; each section contains ten precepts. The servant occupies the first place. He was to obtain his freedom for nothing after serving six years. In Deuteronomy we read that the master is commanded not to let him go empty-handed, but give him of his flock, his threshing floor and his winepress.

EXODUS 21:28 E. DAMAGES BY OR TO CATTLE. An ox goring anyone to death must be stoned, and might not be eaten, as tainted with blood-guilt (Exodus 21:28). In ancient Greece and elsewhere, and even in mediæ val Europe, animals were tried in court. But the owner of an ox known to be vicious, and yet left at large, must die, or pay a fine to the relatives (Exodus 21:29 f.), the same rule holding good of a minor of either sex (Exodus 21:31). A slave's death required a fine of 30 shekels (worth £ 4, 2 Samuel 6 d. now, and much more then) and the ox's death. These two ...

Exodus 20:22 to Exodus 23:33 _The Book of the Covenant_ The -Book of the Covenant" (see Exodus 24:7 in explanation of the name) is the oldest piece of Hebrew legislation that we possess. The laws contained in it are spoken of in Exodus 24:3 as consisting of two elements, the WORDS (or commands) and the JUDGEMENTS: the JUDGEMENTS (see on Exodus 21:1) are the provisions relating to civil and criminal law, prescribing what is to be done when particular cases arise, and comprised in...