_IF A MAN SHALL STEAL AN OX, OR A SHEEP, AND KILL IT, OR SELL IT; HE
SHALL RESTORE FIVE OXEN FOR AN OX, AND FOUR SHEEP FOR A SHEEP._
If a man shall steal. The law respects the theft of cattle, which
constituted the chief part of their property. The penalty for the
theft of a sheep which was slain o... [ Continue Reading ]
_IF A THIEF BE FOUND BREAKING UP, AND BE SMITTEN THAT HE DIE, THERE
SHALL NO BLOOD BE SHED FOR HIM._
No JFB commentary on these verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
_IF A MAN SHALL CAUSE A FIELD OR VINEYARD TO BE EATEN, AND SHALL PUT
IN HIS BEAST, AND SHALL FEED IN ANOTHER MAN'S FIELD; OF THE BEST OF
HIS OWN FIELD, AND OF THE BEST OF HIS OWN VINEYARD, SHALL HE MAKE
RESTITUTION._
If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten ... At certain
seasons cattle... [ Continue Reading ]
_IF FIRE BREAK OUT, AND CATCH IN THORNS, SO THAT THE STACKS OF CORN,
OR THE STANDING CORN, OR THE FIELD, BE CONSUMED THEREWITH; HE THAT
KINDLED THE FIRE SHALL SURELY MAKE RESTITUTION._
If fire break out. This refers to the common practice in the East of
setting fire to the dry grass before the fall... [ Continue Reading ]
_IF A MAN SHALL DELIVER UNTO HIS NEIGHBOUR MONEY OR STUFF TO KEEP, AND
IT BE STOLEN OUT OF THE MAN'S HOUSE; IF THE THIEF BE FOUND, LET HIM
PAY DOUBLE._
If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep ...
The laws contained in this section relate to the loss of property by
theft or... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND IF A MAN ENTICE A MAID THAT IS NOT BETROTHED, AND LIE WITH HER,
HE SHALL SURELY ENDOW HER TO BE HIS WIFE._
And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed. The insertion of
this case in a series of ordinances respecting claims to property
arose from its being possessed to some extent of a sim... [ Continue Reading ]
_IF HER FATHER UTTERLY REFUSE TO GIVE HER UNTO HIM, HE SHALL PAY MONEY
ACCORDING TO THE DOWRY OF VIRGINS._
No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOU SHALT NOT SUFFER A WITCH TO LIVE._
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live, х_ MªKASHEEPAAH_ (H3784)] - a
practitioner in magic and incantations; a juggler, who pretended by
skill in occult science to reveal future events. The word is in the
feminine gender; and although the profession of a wiz... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHOSOEVER LIETH WITH A BEAST SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH._
Whosoever lieth with a beast ... This revolting crime was practiced by
many of the Egyptians in honour of their idols: and it was mentioned
thus early in denouncing other abominations of idolatry, perhaps,
because of its prevalence also a... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE THAT SACRIFICETH UNTO ANY GOD, SAVE UNTO THE LORD ONLY, HE SHALL
BE UTTERLY DESTROYED._
He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only. Yahweh
being the sole object of religious adoration, sacrifice, which
constituted a prime element in the ritual of the Israelites, was to be
rendere... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOU SHALT NEITHER VEX A STRANGER, NOR OPPRESS HIM: FOR YE WERE
STRANGERS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT._
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him, х_ GEER_
(H1616)]. By "stranger" is meant foreigners generally-all people who
were not included in the covenant of Israel. [The sacred history
recogn... [ Continue Reading ]
_YE SHALL NOT AFFLICT ANY WIDOW, OR FATHERLESS CHILD._
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child, х_ LO'_ (H3808)
_ Tª`ANUWN_ (H6031)] - ye shall not afflict or humble. The word
implies cold neglect as well as bad usage [Septuagint, ou kakoosete] -
ye shall not do any ill. The law took pa... [ Continue Reading ]
_IF THOU LEND MONEY TO ANY OF MY PEOPLE THAT IS POOR BY THEE, THOU
SHALT NOT BE TO HIM AS AN USURER, NEITHER SHALT THOU LAY UPON HIM
USURY._
If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor. This law, by the
terms of it, was confined to Israelites exclusively (see the note at
Deuteronomy 23:20).... [ Continue Reading ]
_IF THOU AT ALL TAKE THY NEIGHBOUR'S RAIMENT TO PLEDGE, THOU SHALT
DELIVER IT UNTO HIM BY THAT THE SUN GOETH DOWN:_
If thou at all ... From the nature of the case, this is the
description of poor man. No Orientals undress; but, merely throwing
off their turbans and some of their heavy outer garment... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOU SHALT NOT REVILE THE GODS, NOR CURSE THE RULER OF THY PEOPLE._
Thou shalt not revile the gods. Josephus, who endeavours so often to
accommodate his religion to pagan tastes and prejudices, interprets
this precept as if it conveyed a command to respect the idols of the
pagan ('Antiquities,' b.... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOU SHALT NOT DELAY TO OFFER THE FIRST OF THY RIPE FRUITS, AND OF
THY LIQUORS: THE FIRSTBORN OF THY SONS SHALT THOU GIVE UNTO ME._
Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of
thy liquors. х_ MªLEE'AATªKAA_ (H4395) _ WªDIM`ªKAA_ (H1831) _
LO'_ (H3808) _ Tª'ACHEER_ (H309)] -... [ Continue Reading ]
_LIKEWISE SHALT THOU DO WITH THINE OXEN, AND WITH THY SHEEP: SEVEN
DAYS IT SHALL BE WITH HIS DAM; ON THE EIGHTH DAY THOU SHALT GIVE IT
ME._
Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen (see the note at Leviticus
22:27).... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND YE SHALL BE HOLY MEN UNTO ME: NEITHER SHALL YE EAT ANY FLESH THAT
IS TORN OF BEASTS IN THE FIELD; YE SHALL CAST IT TO THE DOGS._
Ye shall be holy men unto me. Since you are a people separated to my
service (see the note at Exodus 19:6), so you must keep yourselves
free from all impurity, both... [ Continue Reading ]