Property Laws | Family Times

Commentary

I. Deals with civil violations concerning thieves (vv. 1-4).

1. If a man stole an animal and got caught he was to pay back four or five times the amount stolen. No doubt this heavy compensation effectively deterred animal theft.
2. If the thief burglarized in the night and was killed by the owner, then the defendant was not guilty of murder.

3. But if the thief came in the daytime and was killed the owner of the house was guilty of homicide.

II. Deals with civil violations concerning property damage (vv. 5-6).

If a farmer’s livestock invaded another man’s property or a fire destroyed his crops, the offender had to make restitution. These regulations very strongly affirmed the right of life and property.

Application

These same basic regulations that are in effect during this Mosaic time period are still a vital part of our society today. If I or one of my children breaks something in a store where I am shopping I am obligated to either replace it or pay for it. I should never dismiss it as just an accident and walk away with out making restitution.

Exodus 22:1– 6 (NET)

¹ (21:37) “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, he must pay back five head of cattle for the ox, and four sheep for the one sheep.

² “If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no blood guilt for him. ³ If the sun has risen on him, then there is blood guilt for him. A thief must surely make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he will be sold for his theft. ⁴ If the stolen item should in fact be found alive in his possession, whether it be an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he must pay back double.

⁵ “If a man grazes his livestock in a field or a vineyard and he lets the livestock loose and they graze in the field of another man, he must make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.

⁶ “If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or standing grain or the whole field is consumed, the one who started the fire must surely make restitution.