Exodus 22

Ex 22:1-31.

LAWS CONCERNING

THEFT.

1-4. If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep--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 or sold, was

fourfold; for an ox fivefold, because of its greater utility in labor;

but, should the stolen animal have been recovered alive, a

double compensation was all that was required, because it was

presumable he (the thief) was not a practised adept in dishonesty. A

robber breaking into a house at midnight might, in self-defense,

be slain with impunity; but if he was slain after sunrise, it

would be considered murder, for it was not thought likely an assault

would then be made upon the lives of the occupants. In every case where

a thief could not make restitution, he was sold as a slave for the

usual term.

6. If fire break out, and catch in thorns--This refers to the

common practice in the East of setting fire to the dry grass before the

fall of the autumnal rains, which prevents the ravages of vermin, and

is considered a good preparation of the ground for the next crop. The

very parched state of the herbage and the long droughts of summer, make

the kindling of a fire an operation often dangerous, and always

requiring caution from its liability to spread rapidly.

stacks--or as it is rendered "shocks"

(Jud 15:5;

Job 5:26),

means simply a bundle of loose sheaves.

26, 27. If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge,

&c.--From the nature of the case, this is the description of a poor

man. No Orientals undress, but, merely throwing off their turbans and

some of their heavy outer garments, they sleep in the clothes which

they wear during the day. The bed of the poor is usually nothing else

than a mat; and, in winter, they cover themselves with a cloak--a

practice which forms the ground or reason of the humane and merciful

law respecting the pawned coat.

28. gods--a word which is several times in this chapter rendered

"judges" or magistrates.

the ruler of thy people--and the chief magistrate who was also

the high priest, at least in the time of Paul

(Ac 23:1-5).