16 And if a man H376 entice H6601 a maid H1330 that is not betrothed, H781 and lie H7901 with her, he shall surely H4117 endow H4117 her to be his wife. H802
If a man H376 find H4672 a damsel H5291 that is a virgin, H1330 which is not betrothed, H781 and lay hold H8610 on her, and lie H7901 with her, and they be found; H4672 Then the man H376 that lay H7901 with her shall give H5414 unto the damsel's H5291 father H1 fifty H2572 shekels of silver, H3701 and she shall be his wife; H802 because he hath humbled H6031 her, he may H3201 not put her away H7971 all his days. H3117
And when Shechem H7927 the son H1121 of Hamor H2544 the Hivite, H2340 prince H5387 of the country, H776 saw H7200 her, he took H3947 her, and lay H7901 with her, and defiled her. H6031 And his soul H5315 clave H1692 unto Dinah H1783 the daughter H1323 of Jacob, H3290 and he loved H157 the damsel, H5291 and spake H1696 kindly H3820 unto the damsel. H5291 And Shechem H7927 spake H559 unto his father H1 Hamor, H2544 saying, H559 Get H3947 me this damsel H3207 to wife. H802
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 22
Commentary on Exodus 22 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 22
Ex 22:1-31. Laws concerning Theft.
1-4. If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep—The law respects the theft of cattle which constituted the chief part of their property. The penalty for the theft of a sheep which was slain or sold, was fourfold; for an ox fivefold, because of its greater utility in labor; but, should the stolen animal have been recovered alive, a double compensation was all that was required, because it was presumable he (the thief) was not a practised adept in dishonesty. A robber breaking into a house at midnight might, in self-defense, be slain with impunity; but if he was slain after sunrise, it would be considered murder, for it was not thought likely an assault would then be made upon the lives of the occupants. In every case where a thief could not make restitution, he was sold as a slave for the usual term.
6. If fire break out, and catch in thorns—This refers to the common practice in the East of setting fire to the dry grass before the fall of the autumnal rains, which prevents the ravages of vermin, and is considered a good preparation of the ground for the next crop. The very parched state of the herbage and the long droughts of summer, make the kindling of a fire an operation often dangerous, and always requiring caution from its liability to spread rapidly.
stacks—or as it is rendered "shocks" (Jud 15:5; Job 5:26), means simply a bundle of loose sheaves.
26, 27. If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, &c.—From the nature of the case, this is the description of a poor man. No Orientals undress, but, merely throwing off their turbans and some of their heavy outer garments, they sleep in the clothes which they wear during the day. The bed of the poor is usually nothing else than a mat; and, in winter, they cover themselves with a cloak—a practice which forms the ground or reason of the humane and merciful law respecting the pawned coat.
28. gods—a word which is several times in this chapter rendered "judges" or magistrates.
the ruler of thy people—and the chief magistrate who was also the high priest, at least in the time of Paul (Ac 23:1-5).