# Exodus 22 đ: Laws of Restitution and Justice
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## Laws about Property
[[#Verse 01.]]  (21:37) âIf 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.
[[#Verse 02.]] âIf a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no blood guilt for him.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] 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.Â
[[#Verse 04.]] 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.
[[#Verse 05.]] âIf 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.
[[#Verse 06.]]âIf 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.
[[#Verse 07.]] âIf a man gives his neighbor money or articles for safekeeping and it is stolen from the manâs house, if the thief is caught, he must repay double.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house will be brought before the judges to see whether he has laid his hand on his neighborâs goods.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] In all cases of illegal possessions, whether for an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any kind of lost item, about which someone says âThis belongs to me,â the matter of the two of them will come before the judges, and the one whom the judges declare guilty must repay double to his neighbor.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] If a man gives his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep, and it dies or is injured or is carried away without anyone seeing it,Â
[[#Verse 11.]] then there will be an oath to the Lord between the two of them, that he has not laid his hand on his neighborâs goods, and its owner will accept this, and he will not have to pay.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] But if it was stolen from him, he will pay its owner.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] If it is torn in pieces, then he will bring it for evidence, and he will not have to pay for what was torn.
[[#Verse 14.]] âIf a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is hurt or dies when its owner was not with it, the man who borrowed it will surely pay.Â
[[#Verse 15.]]Â If its owner was with it, he will not have to pay; if it was hired, what was paid for the hire covers it.
### Moral and Ceremonial Laws
[[#Verse 16.]] âIf a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged and goes to bed with her, he must surely pay the marriage price for her to be his wife.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] If her father refuses to give her to him, he must pay money for the bride price of virgins.
[[#Verse 18.]]Â âYou must not allow a sorceress to live.
[[#Verse 19.]] âWhoever has sexual relations with a beast must surely be put to death.
[[#Verse 20.]] âWhoever sacrifices to a god other than the Lord alone must be utterly destroyed.
[[#Verse 21.]] âYou must not wrong a resident foreigner nor oppress him, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
[[#Verse 22.]] âYou must not afflict any widow or orphan.Â
[[#Verse 23.]] If you afflict them in any way and they cry to me, I will surely hear their cry,Â
[[#Verse 24.]] and my anger will burn and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children will be fatherless.
[[#Verse 25.]] âIf you lend money to any of my people who are needy among you, do not be like a moneylender to him; do not charge him interest.Â
[[#Verse 26.]] If you do take the garment of your neighbor in pledge, you must return it to him by the time the sun goes down,Â
[[#Verse 27.]] for it is his only coveringâit is his garment for his body. What else can he sleep in? And when he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am gracious.
[[#Verse 28.]]âYou must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
[[#Verse 29.]] âDo not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons.Â
[[#Verse 30.]]Â You must also do this for your oxen and for your sheep; seven days they may remain with their mothers, but give them to me on the eighth day.
[[#Verse 31.]] âYou will be holy people to me; you must not eat any meat torn by animals in the field. You must throw it to the dogs.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. A thief who stole an ox repaid five oxen, and for a sheep, four sheep (22:1).
2. Zacchaeus promised to repay four times what he had taken (Luke 19:8), going beyond what this law required for most theft.
3. The law treated a thief killed at night differently from one killed in daylight (22:2-3), recognizing the difference between self-defense and revenge.
4. God warns that He will hear the cry of the widow and orphan and act on their behalf (22:23).
5. Israel was forbidden to charge interest to the poor (22:25).
6. A cloak taken as a pledge had to be returned by sunset because it was the poor person's blanket (22:26-27).
7. Paul quotes 22:28 when he apologizes for speaking against the high priest (Acts 23:5).
8. The firstfruits and the firstborn belonged to the Lord (22:29-30).
9. Sorcery was forbidden (22:18), a law repeated in Deuteronomy 18:10-12.
10. Meat torn by wild animals was not to be eaten (22:31), likely because the blood had not been drained.
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the defender of the weak. God hears the cry of the widow and the orphan (22:22-23), and Jesus came to bring good news to the poor and set the oppressed free (Luke 4:18).
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. Thieves had to repay more than they stole (22:1, 4). What does restitution teach about true repentance (Luke 19:8)?
2. God commanded Israel to protect foreigners, widows, and orphans (22:21-24). Who are the vulnerable people around you?
3. A borrowed cloak had to be returned before sunset (22:26-27). How does this law show God's compassion in everyday life?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 21: Do not oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
- đ verses 22-23: Do not afflict any widow or orphan. God will hear their cry.
- đ verse 31: You are to be holy people to Me.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[Luke 04#Verse 18.|Luke 4:18]] - Good news to the poor and freedom for the oppressed.
- đ [[Luke 19#Verse 08.|Luke 19:8]] - Zacchaeus repays four times over.
- đ [[James 01#Verse 27.|James 1:27]] - Care for orphans and widows.
- đ [[Deuteronomy 24#Verse 12.|Deuteronomy 24:12-13]] - Return the poor man's cloak.
- đ [[Acts 23#Verse 05.|Acts 23:5]] - Do not speak evil of a ruler.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[Exodus 22- SOAP|Remove All Rebellious Evil]]
## đ Internal Notes