Exoduschapter 22

31 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 255 cross-references outward and receives 232 — heaviest partner: Exodus.

Chapter summary

Laws of property and community. Theft, restitution, fire damage, deposits and loans, harlotry's prohibition on the daughter of a priest, sorcery, bestiality, apostasy. ‘Thou shalt not vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.’ Widows and orphans; lending to the poor without usury; the pledge taken at sundown returned at evening ‘for that is his covering only’. Firstborn of sons and beasts dedicated. Holiness required: ‘ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field’. Social ethics anchored in redemption-memory — Egypt cannot be forgotten.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Exodus overview for the book's full setting.

1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

2 If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.

3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him; he shall make restitution: if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

4 If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall pay double.

5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall let his beast loose, and it 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.

6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

7 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, he shall pay double.

8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods.

9 For every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, whereof one saith, This is it, the cause of both parties shall come before God; he whom God shall condemn shall pay double unto his neighbor.