10 'When a man doth give unto his neighbour an ass, or ox, or sheep, or any beast to keep, and it hath died, or hath been hurt, or taken captive, none seeing— 11 an oath of Jehovah is between them both, that he hath not put forth his hand against the work of his neighbour, and its owner hath accepted, and he doth not repay; 12 but if it is certainly stolen from him, he doth repay to its owner; 13 if it is certainly torn, he bringeth it in—a witness; the torn thing he doth not repay. 14 'And when a man doth ask 'anything' from his neighbour, and it hath been hurt or hath died—its owner not being with it—he doth certainly repay; 15 if its owner 'is' with it, he doth not repay,—if it 'is' a hired thing, it hath come for its hire.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 22:10-15
Chapter Contents
Judicial laws.
The people of God should ever be ready to show mildness and mercy, according to the spirit of these laws. We must answer to God, not only for what we do maliciously, but for what we do heedlessly. Therefore, when we have done harm to our neighbour, we should make restitution, though not compelled by law. Let these scriptures lead our souls to remember, that if the grace of God has indeed appeared to us, then it has taught us, and enabled us so to conduct ourselves by its holy power, that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, Titus 2:12. And the grace of God teaches us, that as the Lord is our portion, there is enough in him to satisfy all the desires of our souls.