Exodus 21:32

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 21:32

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 21:32

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 21:32

Verse 32 32.If the ox shall push a man-servant. It is not unreasonable that the punishment for the death of a slave should now be set at less than for that of a free-man. As regarded the crime of voluntary murder, there was no distinction between slaves and masters; but in a case of mischance (delicto) the severity might in some degree be mitigated; especially when the stoning of the ox sufficiently availed for bringing murder into detestation. God, therefore, showed admirable moderation in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 21:2-35

The slave laws. Slave laws belong to all communities, and not to some only, slavery being really a universal and not a partial institution. In the most civilised communities of modern Europe, there are two large classes of slaves—lunatics and criminals. The law openly condemns these last to penal servitude, which may be for life; and this "servitude," as Lord Chief Justice Coleridge has repeatedly pointed out, is simply a form of slavery. Ancient communities differed from modern— 1 .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 21:18-36

Bodily injuries. The laws in this section may be thus classified:— I. INJURIES BY MAN . 1 . Strivers ( Exodus 21:18 , Exodus 21:19 ). The man who injured another in strife was required to pay for the loss of his time, and to cause him to be thoroughly healed. Had the man died, the case would have come under the law of Exodus 21:12 . As it was, blame attached to both parties, and the law waived the right to further satisfaction. Note— 2 . Servants ( Exodus 21:20... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 21:28-32

Injuries done by cattle to slaves and freemen . For the purpose of inculcating as strongly as possible the principle of the sanctity of human life, the legislator notices the case where mortal injury is done to a person by a domesticated animal. The ox is taken as the example, being the animal most likely to inflict such an injury. In accordance with the declaration already made to Noah ( Genesis 9:6 ), it is laid down that the destructive beast must be killed. Further, to mark the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 21:32

If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant . Hitherto, the case of free persons only has been considered. But the accident might have happened to a slave. Where this was the case, the death of the ox was still made indispensable, and thus far the same sacredness was made to attach to the life of the slave and of the freeman. But, in lieu of a varying fine, the average price of a slave, thirty shekels of silver, was appointed to be paid in all cases, as a compensation to the master read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 21:28-32

The animal was slain as a tribute to the sanctity of human life (Compare the marginal references and Genesis 4:11). It was stoned, and its flesh was treated as carrion. Guilty negligence on the part of its owner was reckoned a capital offence, to be commuted for a fine.In the case of a slave, the payment was the standard price of a slave, thirty shekels of silver. See Leviticus 25:44-46; Leviticus 27:3, and the marginal references for the New Testament application of this fact. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:28-36

Injuries caused by animals (21:28-36)Laws were laid down both to protect and to punish the owners of animals that injured or killed people. In determining how much the owner was at fault and what compensation he should pay, the main consideration was how much he could be held responsible for control of the animal. If the person killed by the animal was a slave, compensation was paid to the master, since he owned the slave. But the slave was acknowledged as a human being, not treated as a mere... read more

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