Exodus 23:5
Read Exodus 23:5 Using Other Translations
What does Exodus 23:5 mean?
If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under
his
burden
Fallen down, and such a burden upon him that he cannot rise up
again, but lies under it, and the owner of it is not able of
himself to raise it up again:
and wouldst forbear to help him;
show an inclination to pass on without giving him any assistance
to get up his beast again; or "wouldst thou forbear to help him?"
F23 as Jarchi, and others, read with an
interrogation, could it be in thine heart to forbear helping him?
couldest thou go on, and take no notice of him and his case, and
not join him in endeavouring to get up his beast again, that he
may proceed its his journey? canst thou be so cruel and
hardhearted, though he is thine enemy? but if thou art, know
this,
thou shalt surely help with him;
to get up his ass again: hence the Jewish canon runs thus
F24,
``if an ass is unloaded and loaded four or five times, a man is bound, i.e. to help, as it is said, "in helping thou shalt help"; if he (the owner) goes away, and sets himself down, seeing the command is upon thee, if it is thy will and pleasure to unload, unload, he is free; for it is said, with him; if he is an old man, or sick, he is bound, the command of the law is to unload, but not to load.''The words may be rendered, "in leaving thou shalt leave with him" F25; either leave or forsake thine enmity to help him, as Onkelos; or leave thy business, thou art about, to lend him an hand to raise up his beast again.
F23 (bzem tldxw) "num desines sublevare eum?" some in Vatablus; "cessabis auxitiari ei?" Drusius; "desines auxiliari ei?" Pagninus.
F24 Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 2. sect. 10.
F25 "Deserendo deseres cum eo", Montanus; so Ainsworth.
