29 But if the ox H7794 were wont to push with his horn H5056 in time past, H8543 H8032 and it hath been testified H5749 to his owner, H1167 and he hath not kept H8104 him in, but that he hath killed H4191 a man H376 or a woman; H802 the ox H7794 shall be stoned, H5619 and his owner H1167 also shall be put to death. H4191
If one be found H4672 slain H2491 in the land H127 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 giveth H5414 thee to possess H3423 it, lying H5307 in the field, H7704 and it be not known H3045 who hath slain H5221 him: Then thy elders H2205 and thy judges H8199 shall come forth, H3318 and they shall measure H4058 unto the cities H5892 which are round about H5439 him that is slain: H2491 And it shall be, that the city H5892 which is next H7138 unto the slain man, H2491 even the elders H2205 of that city H5892 shall take H3947 an heifer, H1241 H5697 which hath not been wrought with, H5647 and which hath not drawn H4900 in the yoke; H5923 And the elders H2205 of that city H5892 shall bring down H3381 the heifer H5697 unto a rough H386 valley, H5158 which is neither eared H5647 nor sown, H2232 and shall strike off H6202 the heifer's H5697 neck H6202 there in the valley: H5158 And the priests H3548 the sons H1121 of Levi H3878 shall come near; H5066 for them the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath chosen H977 to minister H8334 unto him, and to bless H1288 in the name H8034 of the LORD; H3068 and by their word H6310 shall every controversy H7379 and every stroke H5061 be tried: And all the elders H2205 of that city, H5892 that are next H7138 unto the slain H2491 man, shall wash H7364 their hands H3027 over the heifer H5697 that is beheaded H6202 in the valley: H5158 And they shall answer H6030 and say, H559 Our hands H3027 have not shed H8210 this blood, H1818 neither have our eyes H5869 seen H7200 it. Be merciful, H3722 O LORD, H3068 unto thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 whom thou hast redeemed, H6299 and lay H5414 not innocent H5355 blood H1818 unto thy people H5971 of Israel's H3478 charge. H7130 And the blood H1818 shall be forgiven H3722 them. So shalt thou put away H1197 the guilt of innocent H5355 blood H1818 from among H7130 you, when thou shalt do H6213 that which is right H3477 in the sight H5869 of the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 21
Commentary on Exodus 21 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 21
Ex 21:1-6. Laws for Menservants.
1. judgments—rules for regulating the procedure of judges and magistrates in the decision of cases and the trial of criminals. The government of the Israelites being a theocracy, those public authorities were the servants of the Divine Sovereign, and subject to His direction. Most of these laws here noticed were primitive usages, founded on principles of natural equity, and incorporated, with modifications and improvements, in the Mosaic code.
2-6. If thou buy an Hebrew servant—Every Israelite was free-born; but slavery was permitted under certain restrictions. An Hebrew might be made a slave through poverty, debt, or crime; but at the end of six years he was entitled to freedom, and his wife, if she had voluntarily shared his state of bondage, also obtained release. Should he, however, have married a female slave, she and the children, after the husband's liberation, remained the master's property; and if, through attachment to his family, the Hebrew chose to forfeit his privilege and abide as he was, a formal process was gone through in a public court, and a brand of servitude stamped on his ear (Ps 40:6) for life, or at least till the Jubilee (De 15:17).
Ex 21:7-36. Laws for Maidservants.
7-11. if a man sell his daughter—Hebrew girls might be redeemed for a reasonable sum. But in the event of her parents or friends being unable to pay the redemption money, her owner was not at liberty to sell her elsewhere. Should she have been betrothed to him or his son, and either change their minds, a maintenance must be provided for her suitable to her condition as his intended wife, or her freedom instantly granted.
23-25. eye for eye—The law which authorized retaliation (a principle acted upon by all primitive people) was a civil one. It was given to regulate the procedure of the public magistrate in determining the amount of compensation in every case of injury, but did not encourage feelings of private revenge. The later Jews, however, mistook it for a moral precept, and were corrected by our Lord (Mt 5:38-42).
28-36. If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die—For the purpose of sanctifying human blood, and representing all injuries affecting life in a serious light, an animal that occasioned death was to be killed or suffer punishment proportioned to the degree of damage it had caused. Punishments are still inflicted on this principle in Persia and other countries of the East; and among a rude people greater effect is thus produced in inspiring caution, and making them keep noxious animals under restraint, than a penalty imposed on the owners.
30. If there be laid on him a sum of money, &c.—Blood fines are common among the Arabs as they were once general throughout the East. This is the only case where a money compensation, instead of capital punishment, was expressly allowed in the Mosaic law.