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Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:33

If a man shall open a pit ,.... That has been dug in time past, and filled up again, or take the covering from it, and leave it uncovered: "or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it": a new one, in the street, as the Targum of Jonathan; or in a public place, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra; otherwise a man might dig one for water, in his own fields, in enclosed places, where there was no danger of cattle coming thither, and falling therein: and an ox or an ass fall therein ; or any other... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:34

The owner of the pit shall make it good ,.... Repair the loss of the ox or ass: and give the money unto the owner of them : the price of them, what they are worth: the Targum of Jonathan is,"the owner of the pit shall pay the silver, he shall return to its owner the price of the ox or ass:" and the dead beast shall be his ; either the owner of the pit; who pays the full value for the ox or ass killed, which seems but reasonable; or"the injured person as Jarchi, for he says, they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:35

And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die ,.... By pushing with his horns, or his body, or by biting with his teeth, as Jarchi, or by any way whatever: then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money ; the Scripture speaks, as the same writer observes, of one of equal value, otherwise the man that had his ox killed might be greatly a gainer by it; for if his ox was a poor one, and of little value, and the ox that killed his a good one, of value greatly superior, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:36

Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past ,.... If it is a plain case, and a thing well known in the neighbourhood, and there are witnesses enough to testify it, that it has yesterday, and for two or three days running, pushed with his horns men and cattle, as they have come in his way; see Gill on Exodus 21:29 . and his owner hath not kept him in ; took no care to prevent his doing mischief by putting him into a barn or out house, or into an enclosure, where he... read more

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