Bible Commentaries
Exodus 22

Verse 1

a man . Hebrew. 'ish ( App-14 ).

four sheep . So David Jdg 2 Samuel 12:6 .

Verse 2

found : i, e. caught in the act of.

Verse 3

If the sun , &c. Therefore killed after he had got away, and in cold blood.

Verse 5

field. of . Between these two words the Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint have "he shall surely make restitution out of his own field according to the yield thereof; and if the whole field be eaten". This is not due to Ellipsis but to Homoeoteleuton ( App-6 ), by which, in transcribing, the eye of the copyist went back (in error) to the latter of the like endings of two sentences, and thus omitted the intervening words between "field" and "field".

Verse 9

trespass = rebellion. Hebrew. Pash'a. App-44 . before the judges. Hebrew. ha-'elohim = " gods". See App-4 , and note on Exodus 21:6 . Or, before God (the judges representing Him), and acting in His stead, according to Romans 13:1-6 . See this usage (with the Article), Exodus 21:6 ; Exodus 22:8 , Exodus 22:28 . See Exodus 18:15-19 and compare Psalms 82:1 , Psalms 82:6 . John 10:34 , John 10:35 .

Verse 10

no man = no one.

Verse 11

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

Verse 13

it . Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Whole). App-6 . bring one of the pieces. Compare Genesis 31:39 ; and Amos 3:12 .

Verse 17

dowry = 50 shekels. Deuteronomy 22:29 . See App-51 .

Verse 18

witch or spiritist . Medium to or from, from root to mutter, as to some demon. Compare Leviticus 19:26 , Leviticus 19:31 ; Leviticus 20:27 . Deuteronomy 18:9-14 . This enactment shows the reality of intercourse with evil spirits (angels) and demons.

Verse 20

sacrifleeth . Hebrew. cabach. App-43 .

Verse 22

widow , or fatherless. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 , put for all kinds of helpless ones.

Verse 26

raiment = mantle. Raiment by day, and sole covering at night. Compare Exodus 12:34 .Deuteronomy 24:12 , Deuteronomy 24:13 .Judges 4:18 . Amos 2:8 .

Verse 27

According to the Massorah ( App-30 ) this is the middle of the 1,209 verses of Exodus.

Verse 28

curse . Compare Ecclesiastes 10:20 . Acts 23:5 . 2 Peter 2:10 . Jude 1:8 .

Verse 29

ripe fruits, and . . . liquors = thy corn and wine and oil. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species). App-6 .

give . On the eighth day.

Verse 31

men . Hebrew, plural of 'ish or 'enosh. App-14 .