May 8, 2013
IF THEY DID THESE THINGS, THE RESULT WAS DEATH
Exodus 22
Scott Faulkner
Central Truth
When the topic of "capital punishment" comes up, we probably think that the death penalty is only for someone who has committed murder. In the Old Testament, however, there were many actions for which a person could be executed. There are four such actions named in this passage.
Key Verse | Exodus 22:18–22
"You shall not allow a sorceress to live. Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death. He who sacrifices to any god, other than to the LORD alone, shall be utterly destroyed. You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not afflict any widow or orphan." (Exodus 22:18-22)
Exodus 22
1 1 22:1 Ch 21:37 in Hebrew If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 2 22:2 Ch 22:1 in Hebrew If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He 3 22:3 That is, the thief shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.
5 If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard.
6 If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.
7 If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man's house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property. 9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.
10 If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, 11 an oath by the LORD shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn.
14 If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee. 4 22:15 Or it is reckoned in (Hebrew comes into) its hiring fee
Laws About Social Justice
16 If a man seduces a virgin 5 22:16 Or a girl of marriageable age; also verse 17 who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price 6 22:16 Or engagement present; also verse 17 for her and make her his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins.
18 You shall not permit a sorceress to live.
19 Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.
20 Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the LORD alone, shall be devoted to destruction. 7 22:20 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
21 You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
25 If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
28 You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
29 You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. 30 You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.
31 You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Footnotes
[1] 22:1 Ch 21:37 in Hebrew[2] 22:2 Ch 22:1 in Hebrew
[3] 22:3 That is, the thief
[4] 22:15 Or it is reckoned in (Hebrew comes into) its hiring fee
[5] 22:16 Or a girl of marriageable age; also verse 17
[6] 22:16 Or engagement present; also verse 17
[7] 22:20 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
Dive Deeper | Exodus 22
Exodus 21 states six actions resulting in death: 1) striking a man that dies, 2) striking your father or mother 3) kidnapping, 4) cursing your father or mother, 5) striking a woman with child, and 6) ignoring an ox that had previously gored people. Chapter 22 mentions four more actions resulting in death: 1) being a sorceress, 2) lying with an animal, 3) sacrificing to any god but the LORD, and 4) afflicting any widow or orphan. Pretty easy to see a trend here, right? If you do these things, you will be killed! Even in the first part of chapter 22 we see a list of offenses and a theme -- if you steal, you must pay back what you've stolen. Seven times the word restitution is used, and three times the offender had to pay double. The text also covers lending to the poor, borrowing a coat, cursing God, cursing a ruler, giving to God, and holiness.
I often find the best way to learn from these sometimes difficult Old Testament passages is to ask some questions about the text and then apply the answers to my life. How do these ten actions resulting in death affect me? What other offenses did God list in the Bible that warranted immediate death? Is God's sense of justice greater than my own or anyone else's that I know? Is there anyone to whom I need to make restitution? A few come to mind quite quickly even as I write this devotional. Are there any conversations I need to have?
Twice in Proverbs (14:12 and 16:25) the author says, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." We ought to be thinking about avoiding death while being given the opportunity to live in obedience to God. Proverbs 14:27 states, "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." This is the place where real life can be experienced, by truly being obedient and doing what God has asked us to do (John 14:15). If you have the time, listen to the sermon identified above in which Pastor Wagner actually brought his dog on stage. It was then I learned my favorite definition of obedience: immediate, complete, and done with a wag!
Discussion Questions
1. Identify someone to whom you need to make "restitution." Ask him or her for forgiveness today and pay them back. It will be tough, but tremendous freedom awaits with obedience.
2. Write a letter to your parents. Though most of us probably haven't physically struck our mother or father, most of us have probably been disrespectful, impatient, or unkind to our parents. Take 10 minutes and write a quick note to your folks.
3. Who has spent time mentoring you? Take time to thank them!