31 And ye shall be holy H6944 men H582 unto me: neither shall ye eat H398 any flesh H1320 that is torn of beasts H2966 in the field; H7704 ye shall cast H7993 it to the dogs. H3611
Now therefore, if ye will obey H8085 my voice H6963 indeed, H8085 and keep H8104 my covenant, H1285 then ye shall be a peculiar treasure H5459 unto me above all people: H5971 for all the earth H776 is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom H4467 of priests, H3548 and an holy H6918 nation. H1471 These are the words H1697 which thou shalt speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
For I am the LORD H3068 your God: H430 ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, H6942 and ye shall be holy; H6918 for I am holy: H6918 neither shall ye defile H2930 yourselves H5315 with any manner of creeping thing H8318 that creepeth H7430 upon the earth. H776 For I am the LORD H3068 that bringeth H5927 you up out of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 to be your God: H430 ye shall therefore be holy, H6918 for I am holy. H6918
And every soul H5315 that eateth H398 that which died H5038 of itself, or that which was torn H2966 with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, H249 or a stranger, H1616 he shall both wash H3526 his clothes, H899 and bathe H7364 himself in water, H4325 and be unclean H2930 until the even: H6153 then shall he be clean. H2891 But if he wash H3526 them not, nor bathe H7364 his flesh; H1320 then he shall bear H5375 his iniquity. H5771
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).