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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 22:1-6

Here are the laws, I. Concerning theft, which are these:?1. If a man steal any cattle (in which the wealth of those times chiefly consisted), and they be found in his custody, he must restore double, Exod. 22:4. Thus he must both satisfy for the wrong and suffer for the crime. But it was afterwards provided that if the thief were touched in conscience, and voluntarily confessed it, before it was discovered or enquired into by any other, then he should only make restitution of what he had... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 22:7-15

These laws are, I. Concerning trusts, Exod. 22:7-13. If a man deliver goods, suppose to a carrier to be conveyed, or to a warehouse-keeper to be preserved, or cattle to a farmer to be fed, upon a valuable consideration, and if a special confidence be reposed in the person they are lodged with, in case these goods be stolen or lost, perish or be damaged, if it appear that it was not by any fault of the trustee, the owner must stand to the loss, otherwise he that has been false to this trust... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:6

If fire break out ,.... Even though of itself, as Jarchi interprets it: and catch in thorns a thorn hedge or fence, with which cornfields might be en closed: so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith ; whether it be corn cut down, bound up in sheaves, and laid up in heaps or stacks, or whether it be yet growing, and not fully ripe, at least not cut down, or any other fruits of the field; if the fire that takes the thorns which are near... read more

John Gill

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

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