Exodus 21:28-32

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 21:22-36

Observe here, I. The particular care which the law took of women with child, that no hurt should be done them which might occasion their mis-carrying. The law of nature obliges us to be very tender in that case, lest the tree and fruit be destroyed together, Exod. 21:22, 23. Women with child, who are thus taken under the special protection of the law of God, if they live in his fear, may still believe themselves under the special protection of the providence of God, and hope that they shall be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:28

If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die ,.... That are Israelites, of whom only Aben Ezra interprets it; but though they may be principally designed, yet not solely; for no doubt if one of another nation was gored to death by the ox of an Israelite, the same penalty would be inflicted, as follows: then the ox shall be surely stoned ; which is but an exemplification of the original law given to Noah and his sons, Genesis 9:5 , "at the hand of every beast will I require it"; i.e.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:29

But if the ox were wont to push with his horns in time past ,.... Or "from or before yesterday, to the third" F13 מתמל שלשם "ab heri et nudiustertius", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Piscator, Drusius. that is, three days before, and had made three pushes, as Jarchi explains it: and it hath been testified to his owner ; by sufficient witnesses, who saw him push at people for three days past: the Targum of Jonathan is,"and it hath been testified to the face of his owner three... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:30

If there be laid on him a sum of money ,.... By the decree of the judges, as Aben Ezra, or which the sanhedrim of Israel have laid upon him; if his sentence of death is commuted for a fine, with the consent of the relations of the deceased, who in such a case are willing to show mercy, and take a fine instead of the person's death; supposing it was through carelessness and negligence, and not with any ill design that he did not keep up his ox from doing damage, after he had notice: then... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:31

Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter ,.... A little son or daughter, and both Israelites, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra; this is observed, because only a man or woman are made mention of in Exodus 21:29 persons grown up; and lest it should be thought that only adult persons were intended, this is added, to show that the same regard is had to little ones as to grown persons, should they suffer by an ox in like manner as men and women may. The Targum of Jonathan restrains this to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:32

If the ox shall push a manservant, or a maidservant ,.... Which the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi interpret of a Canaanitish servant, man or maid; but no doubt the same provision was made for an Hebrew servant, man or maid, as for a Gentile one: he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver ; that is, the owner of the ox shall pay so much to the masters of the servants for the loss they have sustained by his ox goring them; and Maimonides F18 Hilchot Niske Maimon, c. 11.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:28

If an ox gore a man - It is more likely that a bull is here intended, as the word signifies both, see Exodus 22:1 ; and the Septuagint translate the שור shor of the original by ταυρος , a bull. Mischief of this kind was provided against by most nations. It appears that the Romans twisted hay about the horns of their dangerous cattle, that people seeing it might shun them; hence that saying of Horace. Sat., lib. i., sat. 4, ver. 34: Faenum habet in cornu, longe fuge . "He has hay on... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:30

If there be laid on him a sum of money - the ransom of his life - So it appears that, though by the law he forfeited his life, yet this might be commuted for a pecuniary mulct, at which the life of the deceased might be valued by the magistrates. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:32

Thirty shekels - Each worth about three shillings English; see Genesis 20:16 ; Genesis 23:15 . So, counting the shekel at its utmost value, the life of a slave was valued at four pounds ten shillings. And at this price these same vile people valued the life of our blessed Lord; see Zechariah 11:12 , Zechariah 11:13 ; Matthew 26:15 . And in return, the justice of God has ordered it so, that they have been sold for slaves into every country of the universe. And yet, strange to tell,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 21:28

Verse 28 28.If an ox gore a man. Moses now descends even to the brute animals, so that, if they injured any one, by their punishment men may be more and more deterred from shedding blood. If, therefore, a goring ox have killed a man, he commands that it should be stoned, and that its carcass should be thrown away as abominable. Though censorious persons mock at this law, as if it were childish to punish a wretched animal, in which there is no criminality, their insolence requires but a brief... read more

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