Exodus 22

1 Yf a man steake an oxe or shepe ad kylle it or selle it, he shall restore .v. oxen for an oxe, and .iiij. shepe for a shepe.

2 Yf a thefe be founde breakynge vpp ad be smytten that he dye, there shall no bloude be shed for him:

3 excepte the sonne be vpp when he is founde, then there shalbe bloude shed for him,A thefe shall make restitucyon: Yf he haue not wherewith, he shalbe solde for his thefte.

4 Yf the thefte be founde in his hande alyue (whether it be oxe, asse or shepe) he shall restore double.

5 Yf a man do hurte felde or vyneyarde, so that he put in his beest to fede in another mans felde: off the best off hys owne felde, and of the best of his awne vyneyarde, shall he make restitucyon.

6 Yf fyre breake out and catch in the thornes, so that the stoukes of corne or the stodynge corne or felde be consumed therwith: he that kynled the fyre shall make restitucyon.

7 Yf a man delyuer his neghboure money or stuffe to kepe, and it be stolen out of his housse: Yf the these be foude, he shal paye double

8 Yf the thefe be not founde, then the goodma of the housse shalbe brought vnto the goddes and swere, whether he haue put his hande vnto his neghbours good.

9 And in all maner of trespace, whether it be oxe, asse, shepe, rayment or ony maner lost thynge which another chalegeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the goddes. And whom the goddes condene: the same shall paye double vnto his neghboure.

10 Yf a man delyuer vnto his neghboure to kepe, asse, oxe, shepe or what soeuer beest it be and it dye or be hurte or dryuen awaye and no man se it:

11 then shall an othe of the Lorde goo betwene them, whether he haue put his hande vnto his neghbours good, and the owner of it shall take the othe, and the other shall not make it good:

12 Yf it be stollen from him, then he shall make restitucion vnto the owner:

13 Yf it be torne with wylde beestes, the let him bringe recorde of the teerynge: and he shall not make it good.

14 when a man boroweth oughte of his neghbour yf it be hurte or els dye, and yf the owner therof be not by, he shall make it good:

15 Yf the owner there of be by, he shall not make it good namely yf it be an hyred thinge ad came for hyre.

16 Yf a man begyle a mayde that is not betrouthed and lye with her, he shall endote her and take her to his wife:

17 Yf hir father refuse to geue her vnto him, he shall paye money acordynge to the dowrie of virgens.

18 Thou shalt not suffre a witch to lyue,

19 who soeuer lyeth with a beest, shalbe slayne for it.

20 He that offreth vnto ony goddes saue vnto the Lorde only, let him dye without redemption

21 vexe not a straunger nether oppresse him for ye were straungers in the londe of Egipte.

22 Ye shall trouble no wedowe nor fatherlesse childe:

23 Yf ye shall trouble the: they shall crye vnto me, ad I wyll surely heare their crye

24 and then will my wrath waxe hoote and I will kyll you with swerde, and youre wyues shalbe wedowes and youre childern fatherlesse.

25 Yf thou lende money to ani of my people that is poore by the, thou shalt not be as an vsurer vnto him, nether shalt oppresse him with vserye.

26 Yf thou take thi neghbours raymet to pledge, se that thou delyuer it vnto him agayne by that the sonne goo doune.

27 For that is his couerlet only: eue the rayment for his skynne wherin he slepeth: or els he will crye vnto me ad I will heare him, for I am mercyfull.

28 Thou shalt not rayle vppon the goddes, nether curse the ruelar of thi people.

29 Thy frutes (whether they be drye or moyst) se thou kepe not backe. Thi firstborne sonne thou shalt geue me:

30 likewise shalt thou doo of thine oxen and of thy shepe. Seuen dayes it shall be with the dame, and the .viij. daye thou shalt geue it me.

31 Ye shalbe holye people vnto me, and therfore shall ye eate no flesh that is torne of beestes in the feld. But shall cast it to dogges.

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.