Exodus 21:1--23:13
decisions <04941> [the judgments.]
set <07760> [which.]
Hebrew <05680> [an Hebrew.]
seventh <07637> [and in the.]
himself ....... himself <01610> [by himself. Heb. with his body.]
servant <05650> [And if.]
<0559> [shall plainly say. Heb. saying shall say.]
judges <0430> [the judges.]
pierce ... ear <0241 07527> [bore his ear.]
This significant ceremony was intended as a mark of permanent servitude, and was calculated to impress the servant with the duty of hearing all his master's orders, and obeying them punctually.
forever <05769> [for ever.]
sells <04376> [sell.]
go out <03318> [go out.]
does not please ... master <07451 0113> [please not. Heb. be evil in the eyes of, etc.]
designated <03259> [who hath.]
deceitfully <0898> [seeing.]
food <07607> [her food.]
{Sheairah,} "her flesh;" he shall not only afford her a sufficient quantity of food, as before, but of the same quality. She is not to be fed, like a common slave, with a sufficiency of bread, vegetables, milk, etc., but with her customary supply of flesh, and other agreeable articles of food.
premeditation <06658> [lie not.]
<0430> [God.]
appoint <07760> [I will appoint.]
if .... willfully <02102> [presumptuously.]
kill <02026> [slay.]
take ...... altar <03947 04196> [take him.]
To smite either father or mother, in a manner which indicated either contempt or malice, or left marks of violence, was deemed a proof of so ungrateful and unnatural a disposition, that no provocation was admitted as an excuse, but the offence was made capital: nay, he who cursed his father or mother, who uttered imprecations, ill wishes, or revilings, against a parent, was included in the same sense; though few crimes were made capital by the law of Moses. The law of God, as delegated to parents is honoured when they are honoured, and despised when they are despised: and to rebel against the lawful exercise of this authority is rebellion against God.--Rev. T. Scott
kidnaps <01589> [stealeth.]
sells him .... caught <04376 04672> [selleth him.]
him .... caught ... holding <04672 03027> [found in.]
treats <07043> [curseth. or, revilteth.]
<0582> [men.]
neighbor <07453> [another. or, his neighbour. a stone.]
staff <04938> [upon his staff.]
<05414> [only he shall pay.]
This was a wise and excellent institution. The same provision is made in the civil law; and most courts of justice still regulate their decisions in such cases by this Mosaic precept.
loss of time <07674> [the loss. Heb. his ceasing.]
strikes <05221> [smite.]
surely ... punished <05358> [he shall.]
surely ... punished <05358> [punished. Heb. avenged.]
fight <05327> [strive.]
court decides <06414> [as the judges.]
life .... life <05315> [life for life.]
This is the earliest account we have of the [towtopatheia,] tautopatheia,] Lex Talionis, law of like for like.
ox .............. ox .................. ox <07794> [the ox.]
owner ............... killed .............. man .... put to death <01167 04191> [his owner also.]
redemption <06306> [for the ransom.]
ox .................... ox <07794> [and the ox.]
sheep ..................... sheep ..... sheep <07716 06629> [sheep. or, goat. he shall.]
There is a smaller compensation required in other things, (ver. 9,) and also a disproportion between an ox and a sheep. The reason of the former is, as Maimonides explains it, because money, goods, etc., are better guarded in houses and cities, than cattle in a field; which consequently can be more easily stolen. The reason of the latter seems to be, as it is explained by Bishop Patrick, that an ox was of greater value, and more useful for the purposes of husbandry.
five .... cattle <02568 01241> [five oxen.]
breaking <04290> [breaking.]
blood <01818> [no blood.]
sold <04376> [then he shall.]
in fact ... found <04672> [found.]
pay back double <07999 08147> [he shall restore double.]
make restitution <07999> [shall he make restitution.]
fire breaks out <0784 03318> [If fire break out.]
Mr. Harmer observes, that it is a common custom in the East to set the dry herbage on fire; which fires, from want of care, often produce great damage. Hence a law to guard against such evils was highly expedient.
stacked grain <01430> [so that the stacks of corn.]
started ... fire <01200 01197> [he that kindled the fire.]
thief ... caught <01590 04672> [if the thief be found.]
repay double <07999 08147> [let him pay double.]
judges <0430> [the judges.]
cases ... illegal possessions ........................... matter <01697 06588> [for all manner of trespass.]
cases .............................. matter .... two ................... double <08147 01697> [the cause of both parties.]
two .................. repay double <08147 07999> [pay double unto his.]
oath .... Lord <03068 07621> [an oath of the Lord.]
laid <07971> [that he hath not.]
stolen from ..... pay <01589 07999> [stolen from him.]
torn ... pieces <02963> [torn in pieces.]
bring .... evidence <05707 0935> [let him bring it for witness.]
Or, rather, "Let him bring" {aid hatteraiphah,} an evidence of the thing torn, such as the horns, hoofs, etc.
borrows <07592> [borrow.]
it ..... borrowed ..... pay <07999> [make it good.]
paid .... hire <07939 0935> [it came for his hire.]
man seduces <06601 0376> [a man entice.]
her ... refuses <03985> [utterly.]
pay <08254> [pay. Heb. weigh.]
bride price ... virgins <01330 04119> [dowry of virgins.]
sacrifices <02076> [sacrificeth.]
utterly <02763> [utterly.]
wrong ... foreigner ........ foreigners <01616 03238> [vex a stranger.]
foreigner ........ foreigners <01616> [for ye were strangers.]
cry <06817> [they cry at all.]
surely hear <08085> [I will surely.]
anger <0639> [my wrath.]
wives <0802> [your wives.]
take ........ pledge <02254> [to pledge.]
cries out <06817> [when he crieth.]
gracious <02587> [for I am gracious.]
God <0430> [the gods. or, judges.]
curse <0779> [nor curse.]
hold back <0309> [shalt not delay.]
[the first of they ripe fruits. Heb. they fulness. liquors.]
Heb. tear. the firstborn.
this <03651> [Likewise.]
seven days ............. on .... day <07651 03117> [seven days.]
holy <06944> [holy.]
eat <0398> [neither.]
give <05375> [shalt not.]
give <05375> [raise. or, receive. an unrighteous witness.]
follow ................. agrees <0310> [follow.]
testimony <06030> [speak. or, answer. to decline.]
see <07200> [If thou see.]
not ignore ... but ... sure ... help <02308 05800> [and wouldest forbear to help him. or, Wilt thou cease to help him? or, wouldest cease to leave thy business for him; thou shalt surely leave it to join with him.]
distance .... false <07368 08267> [far from.]
innocent <05355> [the innocent.]
justify <06663> [for I will not.]
accept <03947> [thou shalt take.]
see <06493> [the wise. Heb. the seeing.]
oppress <03905> [thou shalt not.]
know <03045> [ye know.]
life <05315> [heart. Heb. soul.]
seventh <07637> [the seventh.]
olive grove <02132> [olive-yard. or, olive-trees.]
six days ............ day <08337 03117> [Six days.]
son <01121> [and the son.]
attention <08104> [be circumspect.]
mention <02142> [make no mention.]
