If a man's ox injures his neighbor's ox and it dies, they must sell the live one and divide the proceeds; they also must divide the dead animal. If one man’s ox injures another’s oxThis phrase introduces a scenario of property damage, specifically involving oxen, which were valuable assets in ancient agrarian societies. The Hebrew word for "ox" is "שׁוֹר" (shor), indicating a domesticated bovine used for labor and agriculture. The context here reflects the importance of livestock in the economic and social life of the Israelites. The law addresses communal living and the need for fair resolution of disputes, emphasizing responsibility and neighborly conduct. and it dies
The death of the ox signifies a significant loss, as oxen were essential for plowing fields and transportation. The Hebrew word for "dies" is "מוּת" (muth), which is a common term for death in the Old Testament. This highlights the gravity of the situation and the need for a just resolution. The death of an ox would have been a serious economic blow, necessitating a fair and equitable solution to prevent discord among community members. they must sell the live ox
This directive involves a practical solution to the problem. The Hebrew verb "מָכַר" (makar) means "to sell," indicating a transaction that would provide compensation. The sale of the live ox represents a means to equitably resolve the dispute, ensuring that both parties share in the loss and the remaining value. This reflects the biblical principle of justice and fairness, ensuring that neither party is disproportionately burdened by the incident. and divide the proceeds
The division of proceeds underscores the principle of equity. The Hebrew word "חָלַק" (chalaq) means "to divide" or "to share," emphasizing the fair distribution of resources. This action ensures that both parties receive compensation for their loss, promoting peace and harmony within the community. It reflects the biblical value of fairness and the importance of maintaining good relationships among neighbors. they also must divide the dead animal
This final instruction involves the division of the dead ox, which still holds some value, perhaps as meat or hide. The Hebrew word "חָלַק" (chalaq) is again used, reinforcing the theme of equitable distribution. This ensures that both parties benefit from what remains, even in loss. The division of the dead animal serves as a reminder of the importance of justice and the need to address disputes in a manner that honors God and respects community relationships. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe author of Exodus, who received the laws from God on Mount Sinai and communicated them to the Israelites. 2. IsraelitesThe recipients of the Mosaic Law, which included civil, ceremonial, and moral laws to govern their society. 3. OxenDomesticated animals used for labor and agriculture, significant in the agrarian society of ancient Israel. 4. Owners of the OxenIndividuals responsible for their animals, highlighting the importance of stewardship and responsibility in community living. Teaching Points Principle of RestitutionThe law in Exodus 21:35 teaches the importance of making amends for damages caused, promoting justice and fairness in community relationships. Shared ResponsibilityThe requirement to divide both the live and dead oxen emphasizes shared responsibility and the need for cooperation in resolving disputes. Value of PropertyThis law reflects the value placed on property and possessions, urging believers to respect and care for what belongs to others. Community HarmonyBy providing a clear resolution for disputes, this law helps maintain peace and harmony within the community, a principle that can be applied to modern conflicts. StewardshipThe passage encourages responsible stewardship of resources, reminding believers of their duty to manage what God has entrusted to them wisely. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the principle of restitution in Exodus 21:35 apply to modern-day conflicts and disputes? 2. In what ways can the concept of shared responsibility be practiced in your community or church? 3. How does the value placed on property in this passage reflect God's view of stewardship and responsibility? 4. What are some practical ways to promote community harmony in light of the teachings in Exodus 21:35? 5. How can the principles found in Exodus 21:35 be related to the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, particularly in terms of justice and fairness? Connections to Other Scriptures Leviticus 24:18This verse discusses restitution for harm done to another's property, emphasizing the principle of fair compensation. Matthew 7:12Known as the Golden Rule, it underscores the importance of treating others as one would like to be treated, which aligns with the fairness and justice seen in Exodus 21:35. Proverbs 14:4This verse speaks to the value of oxen in agricultural productivity, providing context for why disputes over oxen were significant. People MosesPlaces Mount SinaiTopics Animal, Another's, Beast, Bull, Causing, Damage, Dead, Death, Die, Died, Dies, Dieth, Divide, Division, Equally, Exchanged, Gore, Halve, Halved, Hurt, Hurts, Injures, Man's, Money, Neighbour, Neighbour's, Ox, Price, Sell, Smite, Sold, ThereofDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 21:35 5415 money, uses of Exodus 21:28-36 4615 bull Exodus 21:32-36 5264 compensation Exodus 21:33-36 4605 animals, religious role
5803 carelessness Library The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
[Sidenote: First the principle, and then the detailed laws] If the canon of the New Testament had remained open as long as did that of the Old, there is little doubt that it also would have contained many laws, legal precedents, and ecclesiastical histories. From the writings of the Church Fathers and the records of the Catholic Church it is possible to conjecture what these in general would have been. The early history of Christianity illustrates the universal fact that the broad principles are …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old TestamentThe Kinsman Redeemer
'After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him.'--LEV. xxv. 48. There are several of the institutions and precepts of the Mosaic legislation which, though not prophetic, nor typical, have yet remarkable correspondences with lofty Christian truth. They may be used as symbols, if only we remember that we are diverting them from their original purpose. How singularly these words lend themselves to the statement of the very central truths of Christianity--a slavery …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Non-Resistance
'Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.'--MATT. v. 38-42. The old law …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture A Discourse of the Building, Nature, Excellency, and Government of the House of God; with Counsels and Directions to the Inhabitants Thereof.
BY JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. 'Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.'--Psalm 26:8 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Beautiful in its simplicity is this treatise on the Church of Christ, by John Bunyan. He opens, with profound knowledge and eminent skill, all those portions of sacred writ which illustrate the nature, excellency, and government of the house of God, with the personal and relative duties of its inhabitants. It was originally published in …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
BY A.E. GRIMKE. "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:--and so will I go in unto the king, …
Angelina Emily Grimke—An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South The Doctrine of Non-Resistance to Evil by Force Has Been Professed by a Minority of Men from the Very Foundation of Christianity. Of the Book "What
CHAPTER I. THE DOCTRINE OF NON-RESISTANCE TO EVIL BY FORCE HAS BEEN PROFESSED BY A MINORITY OF MEN FROM THE VERY FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIANITY. Of the Book "What I Believe"--The Correspondence Evoked by it-- Letters from Quakers--Garrison's Declaration--Adin Ballou, his Works, his Catechism--Helchitsky's "Net of Faith"--The Attitude of the World to Works Elucidating Christ's Teaching--Dymond's Book "On War"--Musser's "Non-resistance Asserted"--Attitude of the Government in 1818 to Men who Refused to …
Leo Tolstoy—The Kingdom of God is within you The Sermon on the Mount - the Kingdom of Christ and Rabbinic Teaching.
It was probably on one of those mountain-ranges, which stretch to the north of Capernaum, that Jesus had spent the night of lonely prayer, which preceded the designation of the twelve to the Apostolate. As the soft spring morning broke, He called up those who had learned to follow Him, and from among them chose the twelve, who were to be His Ambassadors and Representatives. [2500] [2501] But already the early light had guided the eager multitude which, from all parts, had come to the broad level …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes - Examination of their Distinctive Doctrines.
APART from the repulsively carnal form which it had taken, there is something absolutely sublime in the continuance and intensity of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. It outlived not only the delay of long centuries, but the persecutions and scattering of the people; it continued under the disappointment of the Maccabees, the rule of a Herod, the administration of a corrupt and contemptible Priesthood, and, finally, the government of Rome as represented by a Pilate; nay, it grew in intensity …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill.' Exod 20: 13. In this commandment is a sin forbidden, which is murder, Thou shalt not kill,' and a duty implied, which is, to preserve our own life, and the life of others. The sin forbidden is murder: Thou shalt not kill.' Here two things are to be understood, the not injuring another, nor ourselves. I. The not injuring another. [1] We must not injure another in his name. A good name is a precious balsam.' It is a great cruelty to murder a man in his name. We injure others in …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments That Deep Things Ought not to be Preached at all to Weak Souls.
But the preacher should know how to avoid drawing the mind of his hearer beyond its strength, lest, so to speak, the string of the soul, when stretched more than it can bear, should be broken. For all deep things should be covered up before a multitude of hearers, and scarcely opened to a few. For hence the Truth in person says, Who, thinkest thou, is the faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord has appointed over his household, to give them their measure of wheat in due season? (Luke xii. 42). …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia.
Part I. History of the Councils. Reason why two Councils were called. Inconsistency and folly of calling any; and of the style of the Arian formularies; occasion of the Nicene Council; proceedings at Ariminum; Letter of the Council to Constantius; its decree. Proceedings at Seleucia; reflections on the conduct of the Arians. 1. Perhaps news has reached even yourselves concerning the Council, which is at this time the subject of general conversation; for letters both from the Emperor and the Prefects …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Exodus 21:35 NIVExodus 21:35 NLTExodus 21:35 ESVExodus 21:35 NASBExodus 21:35 KJV
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