Exodus 22

Order a Free Bible Here from - Bibles4Free.com - a - USBibleSociety.com - Ministry

Dave Burnette's Commentary

Exodus Chapter 22

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Moses

Date Penned: (1450-1410 BC)

Overview: The Record of God's Deliverance of Israel (c 1-40)

Theme: Israel at Sinai (c 19-40)

Message: Laws on People & Property (v 1-36)

Exodus 22 Commentary

(22:1) God's Principles in Action - This is a collection not of picky laws but rather of case studies of God's principles in action. God was taking potential situations and showing how his laws would work in the Israelites' everyday lives. These case studies had several objectives: (1) to protect the nation, (2) to organize the nation, and (3) to focus the nation's attention on God. The laws listed here do not cover every possible situation but give practical examples that make it easier to understand what God wants.

(22:2-17) Going Beyond what is Expected - Throughout Exodus 22 we find examples of the principle of restitution making wrongs right. For example, if a man stole an animal, he had to repay at least double the beast's market value. If you have done someone wrong, perhaps you should go beyond what is expected to make things right. This will (1) help ease any pain you've caused, (2) help the other person be more forgiving, and (3) make you more likely to think before you do it again.

(22:18) Sorcery - Why did God's laws speak so strongly against sorcery (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27; Deuteronomy 18:10-12)? Sorcery was punishable by death because it was a crime against God himself. To invoke evil powers violated the first commandment to have no other gods" (Exodus 20;3). Sorcery was rebellion against God and his authority. In essence, it was teaming up with Satan instead of with God.

(22:21) Strangers - God warned the Israelites not to treat strangers unfairly because they themselves were once strangers in Egypt. It is not easy coming into a new environment where you feel alone and out of place. Are there strangers in your corner of the world? refugees? new arrivals at school? immigrants from another country? Be sensitive to their struggles, and express God's love by your kindness and generosity.

(22:22-27) The Poor - The Hebrew law code is noted for its fairness and social responsibility toward the poor. God insisted that the poor and powerless be well treated and given the chance to restore their fortunes. By giving money to aid those in need, helping them, defending them, and showing concern for them, we are reflecting the love and care God has shown to each of us.

(22:26) The Cloak - Why did the law insist on returning a person's cloak by evening? For many people in Israel, their cloak was one of their most valuable possessions. Making clothing was difficult and time-consuming. As a result, cloaks were expensive, and most people owned only one. A person's cloak was used as a blanket, a sack to carry things in, a place to sit, a pledge for a debt, and, of course, clothing.

(22:29) Giving God Our Firsts - The Israelites were to be prompt in giving God their offerings and not hold anything back. The first of the harvest was to be dedicated to him. Since God doesn't send "payment overdue"

notices, it is easy to take care of other financial responsibilities while letting our gifts to him slide. Giving to God first out of what he has allowed you to have demonstrates that he has first

priority in your life.

Dave Burnette's Life Application

Walking the Fence

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of Exodus with Chapter 22 and in today's text we see more of the Judaical laws that involve neighbors and property. The punishment for crimes committed seem to be double the cost of the crimes price. Some crimes come with the cost of death. We see God's wrath against sin in print and as we looked at yesterday but we see that God does love us to provide us a way of forgiveness through Jesus-Christ. We also see a truth that God hates sin because sin hurts others. God's wrath is motivated by His love and compassion for the victim of our sin. In making application we should approach sin with the same attitude. Instead we tend to "walk the fence" and see how close we can walk to sin without going across the line. Our attitude should be as the Lord and hate sin by stay as far away from sin as we can. How about you? Do you hate sin or do you tend to "walk the fence" when it comes to sin? Let us learn from today's text and hate sin like God hates sin.

Exodus 22

Previous Chapter | Index | Next Chapter

Exodus 22

¹If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

²If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.

³If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

⁴If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.

⁵If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.

⁶If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

⁷If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.

⁸If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods.

⁹For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.

¹⁰If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:

¹¹Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.

¹²And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.

¹³If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.

¹⁴And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.

¹⁵But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.

¹⁶And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.

¹⁷If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

¹⁸Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

¹⁹Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.

²⁰He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

²¹Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

²²Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

²³If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;

²⁴And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

²⁵If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

²⁶If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:

²⁷For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.

²⁸Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

²⁹Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.

³⁰Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

³¹And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.