---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Exodus 22"
description: "CHAPTER 22   :-. LAWS CONCERNING
THEFT. 1-4. If a man shall steal an ox, or
a sheep—The law respects the theft of cattle which constituted
the chief part"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/exodus/22"
---

CHAPTER 22

. LAWS CONCERNING
THEFT.

**1-4. If a man shall steal an ox, or
a sheep**—The law respects the theft of cattle which constituted
the chief part of their property. The penalty for the theft of a
sheep which was slain or sold, was fourfold; for an ox fivefold,
because of its greater utility in labor; but, should the stolen
animal have been recovered alive, a *double* compensation was
all that was required, because it was presumable he (the thief) was
not a practised adept in dishonesty. A robber breaking into a house
at *midnight* might, in self-defense, be slain with impunity;
but if he was slain after *sunrise,* it would be considered
murder, for it was not thought likely an assault would then be made
upon the lives of the occupants. In every case where a thief could
not make restitution, he was sold as a slave for the usual term.

**6. If fire break out, and catch in
thorns**—This refers to the common practice in the East of
setting fire to the dry grass before the fall of the autumnal rains,
which prevents the ravages of vermin, and is considered a good
preparation of the ground for the next crop. The very parched state
of the herbage and the long droughts of summer, make the kindling of
a fire an operation often dangerous, and always requiring caution
from its liability to spread rapidly.
**stacks**—or as it is
rendered "shocks" ([Judges 15:5](../../../kjv/judges/15/5);
[Job 5:26](../../../kjv/job/5/26)), means simply a bundle
of loose sheaves.

**26, 27. If thou at all take thy
neighbour's raiment to pledge,** c.—From the nature of the case,
this is the description of a poor man. No Orientals undress, but,
merely throwing off their turbans and some of their heavy outer
garments, they sleep in the clothes which they wear during the day.
The bed of the poor is usually nothing else than a mat and, in
winter, they cover themselves with a cloak—a practice which forms
the ground or reason of the humane and merciful law respecting the
pawned coat.

**28. gods**—a word which is
several times in this chapter rendered "judges" or
magistrates.
**the ruler of thy people**—and
the chief magistrate who was also the high priest, at least in the
time of Paul ([Acts 23:1-5](../../../kjv/acts/23/1-5)).

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