Exodus 22
Big idea: Restitution, and then a turn. The first half is property law with a consistent logic: what you damaged you replace, and what you stole you replace several times over — five oxen for an ox, four sheep for a sheep. Fire that spreads, animals let loose in a neighbour's field, goods left in trust and stolen, a borrowed animal injured — each gets its rule, with an oath before God where there is no evidence. Then the chapter turns sharply toward people who own nothing to restore: you shall not wrong a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt; do not take advantage of any widow or orphan, for if they cry to me, I will surely hear their cry. Lend without interest to the poor, and if you take a man's coat in pledge, give it back before sunset — for that is his only covering; when he cries to me, I will hear, for I am gracious.
Chapter 22 protects the vulnerable by naming God as their hearer. Chapter 23 extends that into the courtroom, the field, and the calendar — impartial justice, a fallow year, and three feasts.
22:1–15 — He shall make restitution
A man who steals an ox and kills or sells it restores five oxen; a sheep, four. A thief caught breaking in at night may be struck without bloodguilt, but not in daylight; a thief who cannot pay is sold for his theft, and if the stolen animal is found alive in his hand, he restores double. A man whose animal grazes another's field restores from the best of his own. Fire that spreads to another's grain requires full restitution. Goods left with a neighbour and stolen: if the thief is found he pays double; if not, the householder comes before God to swear he has not taken it. A borrowed animal injured or dying without its owner present must be made good — but not if the owner was with it, or if it was hired, for it came for its hire.
1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him. 3 If the sun has risen on him, he is guilty of bloodshed. He shall make restitution. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double. 5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be eaten by letting his animal loose, and it grazes in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field, and from the best of his own vineyard. 6 “If fire breaks out, and catches in thorns so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. 7 “If a man delivers to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief isn’t found, then the master of the house shall come near to God, to find out whether or not he has put his hand on his neighbor’s goods. 9 For every matter of trespass, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any kind of lost thing, about which one says, ‘This is mine,’ the cause of both parties shall come before God. He whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor. 10 “If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies or is injured, or driven away, no man seeing it; 11 the oath of Yahweh shall be between them both, he has not put his hand on his neighbor’s goods; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if it is stolen from him, the one who stole shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn in pieces, let him bring it for evidence. He shall not make good that which was torn. 14 “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor’s, and it is injured, or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution. 15 If its owner is with it, he shall not make it good. If it is a leased thing, it came for its lease.
22:16–31 — I will surely hear their cry
A man who seduces an unbetrothed virgin must pay the bride price and marry her, or pay it anyway if her father refuses. Sorcery, bestiality and sacrifice to any god but Yahweh are capital. Then the turn: you shall not wrong a foreigner or oppress him, for you were foreigners in Egypt. You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child — if you do at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will grow hot, and your own wives will become widows and your children fatherless. Lend to the poor among my people without acting as a creditor or charging interest. If you take a neighbour's garment as collateral, return it before sunset, for that is his only covering — his garment for his skin; what will he sleep in? When he cries to me, I will hear, for I am gracious. Do not blaspheme God or curse a ruler; do not delay your offerings; be holy men to me.
16 “If a man entices a virgin who isn’t pledged to be married, and lies with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. 18 “You shall not allow a sorceress to live. 19 “Whoever has sex with an animal shall surely be put to death. 20 “He who sacrifices to any god, except to Yahweh only, shall be utterly destroyed. 21 “You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. 22 “You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. 25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor. You shall not charge him interest. 26 If you take your neighbor’s garment as collateral, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What would he sleep in? It will happen, when he cries to me, that I will hear, for I am gracious. 28 “You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people. 29 “You shall not delay to offer from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. “You shall give the firstborn of your sons to me. 30 You shall do likewise with your cattle and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days, then on the eighth day you shall give it to me. 31 “You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any meat that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).