Exodus 22:8

8 (But) If the thief is hid(den), or unknown, the lord of the house that received that good shall be brought to the gods, that is, to (the) judges, and he shall swear, that he held not forth his hand into his neighbour's thing, to defraud (and he shall swear, that he did not put forth his hand to his neighbour's thing, to defraud him);

Exodus 22:8 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 22:8

If the thief be not found
And so no account can be given of the goods deposited, what is become of them, and it becomes a doubtful case whether they have been stolen or embezzled, and there is suspicion of the latter:

then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges:
here called Elohim, gods, because they were God's vicegerents, and represented him, and acted under his power and authority; and who at this present were Moses, and those that judged the people under him, and afterwards the seventy elders, and all such who in succeeding times were judges in Israel, and bore the office of civil magistrates; before these the master of the house, or the person who had any goods committed to his care, and they were lost, was to be brought and put to his oath, and upon it examined, in order to find out what was become of the goods committed to him: to see whether he has put his hand to his neighbour's goods: took them to himself, made use of them, or disposed of them to his own advantage, and which was no other than a kind of theft.

Exodus 22:8 In-Context

6 If fire goeth out, and findeth, or burneth, ears of corn, and catcheth heaps of corn, or corns standing in (the) fields, he that kindled the fire shall yield (for) the harm (he who kindled the fire shall make recompense for the harm done).

7 If a man betaketh into keeping money to a friend, or a vessel, and it is taken away by theft from him that received it, if the thief is found, he shall restore the double. (If anyone taketh money, or a vessel, to a friend for safe keeping, and it is taken away by theft from him who received it, if the thief is found, he shall restore double what he stole.)

8 (But) If the thief is hid(den), or unknown, the lord of the house that received that good shall be brought to the gods, that is, to (the) judges, and he shall swear, that he held not forth his hand into his neighbour's thing, to defraud (and he shall swear, that he did not put forth his hand to his neighbour's thing, to defraud him);

9 as well in ox, as in ass, and in sheep, and in cloth; and in whatever thing may bring in harm, the cause of ever either shall come to the judges, and if they deem him guilty, he shall restore the double to his neighbour. (and with any ox, or donkey, or sheep, or cloak, or whatever thing which may be claimed by two people, the case shall come to the judges, and whom they judge guilty, he shall restore double to his neighbour.)

10 If any man betaketh to his neighbour ox, ass, sheep, and all work beast to keeping, and it is dead, or is made feeble, or is taken of enemies, and no man seeth this, (If anyone taketh an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or any work beast, to his neighbour for safe keeping, and it dieth, or is hurt, or is taken by enemies, but no one seeth this,)