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. Ver. 1. _If a man shall steal, &c._] The Persians at this day punish theft and manslaughter so severely, that in an age a man shall hardly hear either of the one or the... [ Continue Reading ]
If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, [there shall] no blood [be shed] for him. Ver. 2. _If a thief be found._] So, if an adulteress be taken, - as she was in John 8:4, - επαυτοφωρω, in the very act.... [ Continue Reading ]
If the sun be risen upon him, [there shall be] blood [shed] for him; [for] he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. Ver. 3. _If the sun be risen._] Chaldee hath it, If the eye of witnesses: if he can raise the town, and call in aid.... [ Continue Reading ]
If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double. Ver. 4. _He shall restore double._] In Solomon's time it was sevenfold. Pro 6:31... [ 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. Ver. 5. _To be eaten._] By unadvised turning in of his cattle, through mistake or ne... [ 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. Ver. 6. _Or the field._] The stubble.... [ 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. Ver. 7. _Or stuff._] Heb., Vessels, instruments, ornaments, apparel, furniture, weapons, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, [to see] whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods. Ver. 8. _To see whether,_] sc., By putting him to his oath. Exo 22:11 Some think that a private oath may be in such a case as this lawfully tak... [ Continue Reading ]
For all manner of trespass, [whether it be] for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, [or] for any manner of lost thing, which [another] challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; [and] whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour. Ver. 9.... [ Continue Reading ]
If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing [it]: Ver. 10. _Or any beast, to keep._] As Jacob kept Laban's cattle. Gen 31:39... [ Continue Reading ]
Exodus 22:11 [Then] shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it shall accept [thereof], and he shall not make [it] good. Ver. 11. _An oath of the Lord._] Who is called in as a witness and as an avenger. How hateful, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof._ Ver. 12. _If it be stolen,_] _sc., _ Through his carelessness. Poor Jacob had hard law. Gen 31:39... [ Continue Reading ]
If it be torn in pieces, [then] let him bring it [for] witness, [and] he shall not make good that which was torn. Ver. 13. _Let him bring it._] A leg, or a limb of it, as Amos 3:12 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And if a man borrow [ought] of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof [being] not with it, he shall surely make [it] good. Ver. 14. _And if a man borrow._] God hath so ordered human condition, that one man must be beholden to another.... [ Continue Reading ]
Exodus 22:15 [But] if the owner thereof [be] with it, he shall not make [it] good: if it [be] an hired [thing], it came for his hire. Ver. 15. _It came for his hire,_] q.d., He shall pay the hire only, and no more, though the owner be not by when it miscarrieth.... [ 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. Ver. 16. _Entice a maid._] Heb., persuade with her by fair words, which make fools fain.... [ Continue Reading ]
If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. Ver. 17. _He shall pay._] No fine is laid upon her, because she had nothing of her own; and she had lost her honour in losing her virginity. 1Th 4:4 _See Trapp on "_ 1Th 4:4 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Ver. 18. _A witch._] An enchantress, sorceress, whose help was sometimes sought in enticing young maids to folly. _a_ The wizzard also is here meant, but the woman witch mentioned; both because women are more inclinable to that sin; and also because the weaker... [ Continue Reading ]
Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. Ver. 19. _Be put to death._] Heb., Put him to die. Gr., Kill him with death; as God threateneth to do Jezebel's children. Rev 2:23... [ Continue Reading ]
He that sacrificeth unto [any] god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed. Ver. 20. _He shall be utterly destroyed._] As an execrable and accursed creature.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Ver. 21. _Theft shalt not vex a stranger._] The right of strangers is so holy, saith one, that there was never nation so barbarous that would violate the same. When Stephen Gardner had in his power the r... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. Ver. 22. _Or fatherless child._] With God "the fatherless findeth mercy." Hos 14:3 Widows and orphans are God's clients, taken into his protection.... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; Ver. 23. _And they cry at all unto me._] A vine whose root is uncovered thrives not: so a widow, whose covering of eyes is taken away, joys not. In Hebrew she is called _Almanach,_ from _Alam,_ to be dumb;... [ Continue Reading ]
_And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless._ Ver. 24. _Your wives shall be widows._] God delights to punish cruelty in kind, as he did in Agag. 1Sa 15:33... [ 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. Ver. 25. _Thou shalt not be to him as a usurer._] Heb., As an exacting creditor, _Qui nullum diem gratis occidere creditori permittit._ The usurer's money i... [ 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: Ver. 26, 27. Thy neighbour's raiment.] Meant only of his bedclothes, _tegumentum nocturnum; _ without which he cannot comfortably rest in the night.... [ Continue Reading ]
For that [is] his covering only, it [is] his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I [am] gracious. Ver. 27. _See Trapp on "_ Exo 22:26 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. Ver. 28. _Thou shalt not revile the gods._] Blaspheme dignities. Jdg 1:8 This is blasphemy is the second table.... [ 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. Ver. 29. _Theft shalt not delay._] True obedience is prompt and present, ready and speedy, without demurs and consults. "Wings, and wind in their wings." Zec 5:9... [ 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. Ver. 30. _On the eighth day._] When a Sabbath had once gone over it, say the Hebrews.... [ 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. Ver. 31. _Holy men._] Heb., Men of holiness, which should run through our whole lives, as the woof doth through the web.... [ Continue Reading ]