THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT (CONTINUED) 1. Four sheep] The larger compensation required in the case of the ox is probably due to the fact that it is an animal used for labour, and of proportionately higher value, therefore, than a sheep: cp. 2 Samuel 12:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAKING UP] RV 'breaking in.'... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE SUN BE RISEN UPON HIM] i.e. if the housebreaking be committed in daylight. The nocturnal burglar is more dangerous and cannot be so easily detected. In a case of daylight robbery it is less necessary to resort to extreme measures for defence. In English law a similar distinction is made betwe... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE BEST OF HIS OWN FIELD] This is a case of wilful damage. In the next v. the damage is accidental, such as might result from the burning of weeds or thorns, in which case an exact equivalent only is required.... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER UNTO HIS NEIGHBOUR] This practice was common in days when there were no banks. Otherwise, treasure might be buried in a field: cp. Matthew 13:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE JUDGES] RV 'unto God.' See on Exodus 21:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
OATH OF THE LORD] an oath invoking Jehovah as witness. On the solemn nature of such oaths, cp. Exodus 20:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET HIM BRING IT] i.e. what remains of it, in order to show the cause of the injury.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT CAME FOR HIS (i.e. 'its'; see on Leviticus 25:5) hire] RM 'it is reckoned in its hire.' The owner is understood to have taken the risk of injury into account in fixing the price of hire. 16-31. Miscellaneous Laws. 16, 17. ENDOW HER] RV rightly, 'pay a dowry for her': e.g. to her father. The dowr... [ Continue Reading ]
A WITCH] RV 'sorceress.' The word is the same as that in Exodus 7:11. Sorcery, or the pretended holding communication with evil spirits, is a form of idolatry or rebellion against Jehovah, and punished as such: see Exodus 22:20, and cp. Deuteronomy 18:10; Leviticus 19:26; Leviticus 19:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Leviticus 19:33; Leviticus 19:34. The Mosaic Law repeatedly emphasises the duty of kindly consideration of the weak and oppressed, the afflicted and the poor. God is the champion and the avenger of all such: cp. Psalms 146:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU LEND MONEY TO _any of_ MY PEOPLE _that is_ POOR BY THEE] RV 'to any of my people with thee that is poor': interest is forbidden on loans to a fellow Israelite, but is expressly allowed in dealing with a foreigner: see Deuteronomy 23:19, and cp. Leviticus 25:35. The loans referred to here are... [ Continue Reading ]
While the taking of interest is forbidden, the taking of a pledge for repayment of a loan is sanctioned, and frequent reference is made in Scripture to the practice: see e.g. Amos 2:8; Job 22:6; Job 24:9; Deuteronomy 24:6. The outer garment of the Israelite (the _simlah_) is a kind of cloak or plaid... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GODS] RV 'God.' RM 'judges' is also possible: see on Exodus 21:6. But cp. St. Peter's injunction (1 Peter 2:17).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST OF THY RIPE FRUITS] RV 'the abundance of thy fruits,' etc.: see on Exodus 13:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE EIGHTH DAY] The minimum age of a sacrificial animal is eight days. The animal must be in a fit condition, which it could hardly be during the first week: cp. Leviticus 22:27. The eighth day was also prescribed for the circumcision of children: see Genesis 17:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOLY MEN] See on Exodus 19:5; Exodus 19:10. The numerous regulations with regard to outward purity, of which one example is given here, were intended to be a symbol and a reminder of that purity of heart which God's people must exhibit. TORN OF BEASTS] This prohibition rests on the general law that... [ Continue Reading ]