Deuteronomio 24:7

7 Cuando fuere hallado alguno que haya hurtado persona de sus hermanos los hijos de Israel, y hubiere mercadeado con ella, ó la hubiere vendido, el tal ladrón morirá, y quitarás el mal de en medio de ti.

Deuteronomio 24:7 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 24:7

If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children
of Israel
Whether grown up or little, male or female, an Israelite or a proselyte, or a freed servant; all, as Maimonides ^F6 says, are included in this general word "brethren"; though Aben Ezra observes, that it is added, "of the children of Israel", for explanation, since an Edomite is called a "brother". Now, a man must be "found" committing this fact; that is, it must plainly appear, there must be full proof of it by witnesses, as Jarchi explains this word:

and maketh merchandise of him;
or rather uses him as a servant, and employs him in any service to the least profit and advantage by him, even to the value of a farthing; yea, if he does but lean upon him, and he supports him, though he is an old man that is stolen; this is serving a man's self by him, as Maimonides ^F7, which is what is forbidden as distinct from selling him, as follows:

or selleth him:
to others; and both these, according to the above writer ^F8, using him for service, and selling him, are necessary to make him guilty of death; not the one without the other; but reading them disjunctively, as we do, gives the better sense of the words:

then that thief shall die;
by strangling with a napkin, as the Targum of Jonathan; and so Maimonides ^F9 says, his death is by strangling:

and thou shall put evil away from among you;
both him that does evil, as the Targum of Jonathan, and the guilt of it by inflicting due punishment for it; and so deter from such practices, and prevent evil coming upon the body of the people, should such a sin be connived at; see ( Exodus 21:16 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 Hichot Genibah, c. 9. sect. 6.
F7 Ib. sect. 2.
F8 Ib. sect. 3.
F9 Hilchot Genibah, c. 9. sect. 1. So R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 67. 1. interprets it of service.

Deuteronomio 24:7 In-Context

5 Cuando tomare alguno mujer nueva, no saldrá á la guerra, ni en ninguna cosa se le ocupará; libre estará en su casa por un año, para alegrar á su mujer que tomó.

6 No tomarás en prenda la muela de molino, ni la de abajo ni la de arriba: porque sería prendar la vida.

7 Cuando fuere hallado alguno que haya hurtado persona de sus hermanos los hijos de Israel, y hubiere mercadeado con ella, ó la hubiere vendido, el tal ladrón morirá, y quitarás el mal de en medio de ti.

8 Guárdate de llaga de lepra, observando diligentemente, y haciendo según todo lo que os enseñaren los sacerdotes Levitas: cuidaréis de hacer como les he mandado.

9 Acuérdate de lo que hizo Jehová tu Dios á María en el camino, después que salisteis de Egipto.