Exodus 22:1, Exodus 22:4, Exodus 22:7-9 ESV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 22:1

Exodus 22:1. Five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep More for an ox than for a sheep, because the owner, besides all the other profit, lost the daily labour of his ox. If he were not able to make restitution, he was to be sold for a slave: the court of judgment was to do it, and it is likely the person robbed received the money. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:1-17

Laws about repayment (22:1-17)A convicted thief had to return stolen goods and pay a fine in the form of an additional compensation to the owner. The more serious the crime, the heavier the fine. If the thief could not make the payment, he himself became the payment by becoming the slave of the one whose goods he had stolen. It was not lawful to kill a thief caught in the act, unless at night, when self-defence could make such action excusable. Normally the thief was to be captured and brought... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 22:1

a man . Hebrew. 'ish ( App-14 ). four sheep . So David Jdg 2 Samuel 12:6 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 22:1-4

"If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him. If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him; he shall make restitution: if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall pay double."Here is... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 22:1

Exodus 22:1. If a man shall steal an ox or a sheep, &c.— If he killed or sold such stolen ox, sheep, or goat, and was legally convicted of the crime, he was to restore five oxen for an ox, &c. If they were found alive upon him, and there was no trouble of a legal process, he was to restore double, Exodus 22:4. It is observable, that a smaller satisfaction is required for a sheep than for an ox; the reason for which seems evidently to be, the greater proportionate value of an ox than a... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Exodus 22:1

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... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 22:1-4

According to the Code of Hammurabi a thief should die if he could not repay what he had stolen [Note: Code of Hammurabi, section 8.] or if he stole by breaking in. [Note: Ibid., section 21.] The Torah modified this law by annulling the death penalty and substituting the penalty of being sold into slavery, in the first case. In the second case, it annulled the death penalty and protected the life of the victim. Exodus 22:1; Exodus 22:4 of chapter 22 go together and deal with theft generally. The... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 22:1-31

The Book of the Covenant (continued)1. Four sheep] The larger compensation required in the case of the ox is probably due to the fact that it is an animal used for labour, and of proportionately higher value, therefore, than a sheep: cp. 2 Samuel 12:6. 2. Breaking up] RV ’breaking in.’ 3. If the sun be risen upon him] i.e. if the housebreaking be committed in daylight. The nocturnal burglar is more dangerous and cannot be so easily detected. In a case of daylight robbery it is less necessary to... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 22:1

(1) If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep.—The flocks and herds of the Israelites constituted their principal property, and hence cattle-stealing is taken as the representative of theft in general.And kill it, or sell it.—Plainly showing persistence and determination.Five oxen . . . four sheep.—The principle of the variation is not clear. Perhaps the theft of an ox was regarded as involving more audacity, and so more guilt, in the thief. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 22:1-4

XXII.(1-4) Theft is here treated of with great brevity, only three kinds being distinguished—(1) Housebreaking; (2) stealing without conversion of the property; (3) stealing with conversion. The main principle of punishment laid down is the exaction from the offender o! Double (Exodus 22:4). When, however, there has been conversion of the property, the penalty is heavier, the return of four-fold in the case of a sheep, of five-fold in that of an ox (Exodus 22:1). Incidentally it is enacted that... read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 22:1

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:1-17

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 22:1

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 22:1-4

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 22:1

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Exodus 22:1

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 22:1-4

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 22:1-31

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 22:1

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 22:1-4

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