Exodus 22

1 "If someone steals an ox or a lamb and slaughters or sells it, the thief must pay five cattle in place of the ox and four sheep in place of the lamb.
2 If the thief is caught while breaking in and is hit hard and dies, there is no bloodguilt.
3 But if it happens after daybreak, there is bloodguilt.
4 If caught red-handed with the stolen goods, and the ox or donkey or lamb is still alive, the thief pays double.
5 "If someone grazes livestock in a field or vineyard but lets them loose so they graze in someone else's field, restitution must be made from the best of the owner's field or vineyard.
6 "If fire breaks out and spreads to the brush so that the sheaves of grain or the standing grain or even the whole field is burned up, whoever started the fire must pay for the damages.
7 "If someone gives a neighbor money or things for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor's house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.
8 If the thief is not caught, the owner must be brought before God to determine whether the owner was the one who took the neighbor's goods.
9 "In all cases of stolen goods, whether oxen, donkeys, sheep, clothing, anything in fact missing of which someone says, 'That's mine,' both parties must come before the judges. The one the judges pronounce guilty must pay double to the other.
10 "If someone gives a donkey or ox or lamb or any kind of animal to another for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or lost and there is no witness,
11 an oath before God must be made between them to decide whether one has laid hands on the property of the other. The owner must accept this and no damages are assessed.
12 But if it turns out it was stolen, the owner must be compensated.
13 If it has been torn by wild beasts, the torn animal must be brought in as evidence; no damages have to be paid.
14 "If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it gets injured or dies while the owner is not present, he must pay for it.
15 But if the owner was with it, he doesn't have to pay. If the animal was hired, the payment covers the loss.
16 "If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the marriage price and marry her.
17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her away, the man must still pay the marriage price for virgins.
18 "Don't let a sorceress live.
19 "Anyone who has sex with an animal gets the death penalty.
20 "Anyone who sacrifices to a god other than God alone must be put to death.
21 "Don't abuse or take advantage of strangers; you, remember, were once strangers in Egypt.
22 "Don't mistreat widows or orphans.
23 If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure I'll take them most seriously;
24 I'll show my anger and come raging among you with the sword, and your wives will end up widows and your children orphans.
25 "If you lend money to my people, to any of the down-and-out among you, don't come down hard on them and gouge them with interest.
26 "If you take your neighbor's coat as security, give it back before nightfall;
27 it may be your neighbor's only covering - what else does the person have to sleep in? And if I hear the neighbor crying out from the cold, I'll step in - I'm compassionate.
28 "Don't curse God; and don't damn your leaders.
29 "Don't be stingy as your wine vats fill up.
30 The same with your cattle and sheep - they are to stay for seven days with their mother, then give them to me.
31 "Be holy for my sake. "Don't eat mutilated flesh you find in the fields; throw it to the dogs.

Exodus 22 Commentary

Chapter 22

Judicial laws.

- The people of God should ever be ready to show mildness and mercy, according to the spirit of these laws. We must answer to God, not only for what we do maliciously, but for what we do heedlessly. Therefore, when we have done harm to our neighbour, we should make restitution, though not compelled by law. Let these scriptures lead our souls to remember, that if the grace of God has indeed appeared to us, then it has taught us, and enabled us so to conduct ourselves by its holy power, that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, ( Titus 2:12 ) . And the grace of God teaches us, that as the Lord is our portion, there is enough in him to satisfy all the desires of our souls.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 22

This chapter contains various laws concerning theft, Ex 22:1-4, concerning damage done to fields and vineyards by beasts, and to corn in stacks or standing, by fire, Ex 22:5,6, concerning anything or creature deposited in the hands of a neighbour, and they be stolen or lost by one means or another, Ex 22:7-13, concerning anything borrowed, and it comes to any damage, Ex 22:14,15, concerning fornication, Ex 22:16,17 concerning witchcraft, bestiality, and idolatry, Ex 22:18-20 concerning oppression, and affliction of the stranger, fatherless, and widow, Ex 22:21-24 concerning taking usury and pledges, Ex 22:25-27, concerning irreverence to magistrates, Ex 22:28, concerning the offering of firstfruits to God, Ex 22:29,30 and the chapter is concluded with a prohibition of eating anything torn by beasts, Ex 22:31.

Exodus 22 Commentaries

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.