Exodus 22:1-31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:7

If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stock to keep ,.... Without any reward for keeping it, as the Targum of Jonathan; and so other Jewish writers F16 Jarchi in ver. 10. Bartenora in Misn. Shebuot, c. 6. sect. 5. understand this passage of such as keep a deposit freely, having nothing for it; whether it be money or goods, gold, silver, jewels, raiment, household stuff or any kind of vessels or instruments used in the house, or in trade; and also cattle, as appears from ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:8

If the thief be not found ,.... And so no account can be given of the goods deposited, what is become of them, and it becomes a doubtful case whether they have been stolen or embezzled, and there is suspicion of the latter: then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges : here called Elohim, gods, because they were God's vicegerents, and represented him, and acted under his power and authority; and who at this present were Moses, and those that judged the people under him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:9

For all manner of trespass ,.... With respect to what is committed to a man's trust, and it is lost to the owner of it, there must be somewhere or other a trespass committed, either by the person into whose hands it was put, or by a thief that has stolen it from him: whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing by which it appears that either of these, or any other cattle not named, as well as money and vessels, or household goods, or goods in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:10

If a man deliver to his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast to keep ,.... And he keeps it without a reward, as the Targum of Jonathan; but Jarchi and Aben Ezra more rightly interpret this of one that keeps for hire, as herdsmen, shepherds, &c.; The Jews say F20 Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 7. sect. 8. there are"four sorts of keepers; he that keeps for nought (or freely), he that borrows, he that takes hire, and he that hires; he that keeps for nought swears in all cases... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:11

Then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both ,.... Either by the one, the keeper, for the satisfaction of the owner, or by them both; by the owner, that he delivered such and such cattle to the keeper; and by the keeper, that he was no ways concerned in the death, hurt, or carrying off of the same: and this is called "the oath of the Lord", not only because in this law required by him, but because sworn by him, or in his name, and made before him, in his presence, who is hereby... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:12

And if it be stolen from him ,.... Or "but if" F24 כי אם "si autem", Drusius. it was taken away by theft; and that "from with him" F25 מעמו "e cum eo", Montanus. , as it may be literally rendered, from among his own cattle, and they not taken; and he being present, pretending to have an eye upon them and keep them, but was careless and negligent, at least, if he did not connive at the theft: he shall make restitution to the owner thereof ; for in such a case there was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:13

If it be torn in pieces ,.... By some wild beast, at least as pretended: then let him bring it for witness ; part of that which is torn, that it may be witness for him that it was torn, as in Amos 3:12 as Aben Ezra observes; and so the Jerusalem Targurn,"let him bring of the members of it a witness,'which would make it a clear case that it had been so used; but it is possible that the whole carcass might be carried off, and nothing remain to be brought as a proof of it; wherefore the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:14

And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour ,.... Any beast, as it should seem, as an ox to plough with, an ass, horse, or camel to ride on, though the Jewish writers carry it also to any kind of household stuff: and if he be hurt or die ; if any damage comes to it, or it dies while it is in the borrower's hands, and when employed in that work for which he borrowed it; the Targum of Jonathan is,"and the vessel should be broke, or the beast die:'and the owner thereof being not with it;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:15

But if the owner thereof be with it ,.... When it is hurt or dies; for in some cases the owner might go along with his beast, being borrowed or hired to do work with it; or, however, being upon the spot, must be satisfied that it was not ill used; and it may be reasonably presumed he would do all he could to preserve it: and this being the case: he shall not make it good ; that is, the borrower, but the loss would lie upon the lender; seeing this might have been the case if it had been... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:16

And if a man entice a maid, that is not betrothed ,.... For one might be betrothed according to the custom of those times, and not be married, or the nuptials consummated, and so be yet a maid or virgin; but being betrothed, it made the case different, because such an one was as a wife to a man: but the case here supposed is of a maid not betrothed, and also not forced, but yielding to the solicitations of a man, as is implied by her being enticed; which signifies his gaining upon her... read more

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