Exodus 22:1-15 - Accountability Laws

Exodus 22:1-15

Responsibility for Property

1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double.

5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.

6 “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

7 “If a man delivers to his neighbor money or articles 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 is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor’s goods.

9 “For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn 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, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, 11 then an oath of the LORD shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. 12 But if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it. 13 If it is torn to pieces by a beast, then he shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn.

14 “And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good. 15 If its owner was with it, he shall not make it good; if it was hired, it came for its hire.

God gave even more laws to His people through Moses as these dealing with accountability for property stolen, lost, or damaged.  Restitution was the goal for the loss of the victim in one way or another.  For defending one’s property, if the thief is caught and killed it brings no punishment on the guiltless victim, but if the victim waits to report the killing until the next day instead of straight away, it is as murder with the associated guilt.  This law is seen in some states and other countries even today because of the wisdom of God who created it.  Restitution needs to be made for stolen property as well, especially when it is one’s livelihood as with the animals mentioned here.  Restitution must be made for carelessness leading to property loss as well through misuse or negligence leading to destruction as in the examples of a grazing animal or careless fire affecting a neighboring field.  Even borrowed goods that are stolen hold the borrower potentially accountable to the owner he was lent them from if the thief is not found to find out if he was the thief.  Justice was not to be assumed, but investigated as we know in due process now.  Judges decide who is responsible and oaths are taken in the process with restitution made as the guilty part is uncovered.  This includes the responsibility of a borrower to safeguard the property of the one he borrows from if he was not watching it at the time.  All these laws were meant to protect the people and their property with the goal of justice and fairness and restitution or conviction for crimes against one another.  This is the basis of law and order today with courts, judges, investigators, and accountability for restitution to keep civility and order in society and not allow such actions as Cain murdering his brother Abel or other lawlessness that first prevailed until the flood and was repeated afterwards when such laws had to be written down like this.  God in His wisdom provides us with order and accountability just as between us all and Himself.  The merciful part is His grace to reprieve our death sentence on sin by the price paid by his Son on the cross taken and displayed before the heavenly Judge for our sentence’s commuting forevermore.  May we show such mercy and grace to one another and not deep and the last ounce of retribution in turn as the law of the land handles the rest.