Deuteronomy 22:4

4 Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift [them] up again.

Deuteronomy 22:4 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:4

Thou shall not see thy brother's ox or his ass fall down by the
way
And lie under his burden, not being able to rise with it of himself, nor with all the assistance about it, without further help:

and hide thyself from them;
cover thine eyes, or turn them another way, and make as if thou didst not see them in distress:

thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again;
that is, help the brother and owner of it, the ox and ass; assist him in getting them up again, and lay on their burden, and fasten them aright, which either were rolled off by the fall, or were obliged to be taken off in order to raise them up; and if this was to be done for an enemy, then much more for a brother, as is required, (See Gill on Exodus 23:5), or "lifting up, thou shall lift them up with him" ^F4; that is, most certainly do it, and lift with all his strength, and as often as there is occasion; if they fell down again after raised up, help is still to be continued, even, as Maimonides ^F5 says, though it was an hundred times.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Myqt Mqh) "erigendo eriges", Pagninus, Montanus.
F5 Hilchot Rotzeach, c. 13. sect. 5.

Deuteronomy 22:4 In-Context

2 And if thy brother shall not [be] nigh to thee, or if thou shalt not know him, then thou shalt bring it to thy own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother shall seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again.

3 In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost things of thy brother's, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself.

4 Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift [them] up again.

5 A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth to a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so [are] abomination to the LORD thy God.

6 If a bird's nest shall chance to be before thee in the way on any tree, or on the ground, [whether with] young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: