2. MoseKapitel 22

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If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there is no bloodguilt for him.

But if the sun has risen on him, there is bloodguilt. The thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he shall be sold to pay for his theft.

If what he stole is found alive in his possession, whether ox or donkey or sheep, he shall pay back double.

If a man puts his livestock into a field or a vineyard, and lets them loose so that they feed in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.

If a fire breaks out and spreads through thornbushes, so that stacked grain or standing grain or a whole field is consumed, the one who started the fire shall make full restitution.

If a man gives his neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the man's house, then if the thief is found, he shall pay back double.

If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall be brought before God, to determine whether he has laid his hand on his neighbor's property. [Footnote: Or 'before the judges'; the Hebrew word can refer to God or to those who judge in his name.]

In every case of dishonesty, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any lost item that someone claims as his own, the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God declares guilty shall pay back double to his neighbor.

If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal for safekeeping, and it dies or is injured or is driven off with no one to see it,

an oath before the LORD shall settle the matter between them, that he has not laid his hand on his neighbor's property. The owner shall accept this, and no restitution shall be made.

But if it was in fact stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner.

If it was torn by wild animals, let him bring the remains as evidence; he need not pay for what was torn.

If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not present, he shall make full restitution.

If the owner was present, no restitution shall be made. If the animal was hired, the loss is covered by the hiring fee.

If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged and lies with her, he must pay the bride-price and take her as his wife.

If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still weigh out silver equal to the bride-price for virgins.

You shall not let a sorceress live.

Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.

Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone shall be devoted to destruction.

You shall not wrong a foreigner or oppress him, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

You shall not mistreat any widow or orphan.

If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry.

My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.

If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, do not act as a creditor toward them; you shall not charge them interest.

If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, return it to him before the sun goes down,

for it is his only covering, the garment for his body. What else does he have to sleep in? And when he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

You shall not revile God, nor curse a leader of your people.

Do not hold back the offering from your harvest or your winepress. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me.

Do the same with your cattle and your sheep: seven days the newborn shall stay with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.

You shall be holy people to me. You shall not eat the meat of an animal torn by beasts in the field; throw it to the dogs.

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Zusammenfassung2

Kapitel 22

Main Theme: Laws concerning restitution, property protection, and social justice in the covenant community.

Content: The chapter provides rules for compensation in cases of theft and property damage, including the right to self-defense against burglars, double restitution for stolen items, and liability for damage caused by grazing animals or fire. It contains laws regarding entrusted goods and lending, with an oath before the Lord serving as the final decision in disputes. The chapter forbids sorcery, bestiality, and idolatry, while commanding protection for vulnerable groups such as foreigners, widows, and fatherless children. Finally, it gives instructions concerning firstfruits, firstborn sons and animals, along with the call to be a holy people.

Key Words/Images:

Double Restitution: The foundational principle for making amends in cases of theft and fraud (v.3, 6, 8).
Oath before the Lord: A sacred oath used to resolve disputes when there are no witnesses (v.10).
The Foreigner (ger): Israel is to protect foreigners because they themselves were foreigners in Egypt (v.20).
The Cloak as Pledge: A poor person's cloak must be returned before sunset, for God is compassionate (v.25-26).
Holy People: Israel is called to be holy to God, expressed through concrete obedience (v.30).

Historischer Kontext

Historical and Cultural Context for Exodus 22

Events and Customs

The chapter contains a collection of civil and religious laws regulating daily life in ancient Israel. The laws concerning theft and restitution reflect how livestock such as oxen, donkeys, and sheep constituted the family's most important property. The double restitution required for stolen animals found alive (v. 3) was milder than other ancient laws, which could demand much higher compensation.

The provisions regarding the custody of property (vv. 6–14) show that deposit arrangements were common in antiquity, where neighbors kept valuables for one another in the absence of banks. The instruction to bring the case "before God" (אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים, el-ha'elohim, vv. 7–8) likely refers to a legal process at the sanctuary, where an oath was sworn.

The bride-price (מֹהַר, mohar) mentioned in verse 16 was compensation paid to the bride's family and was standard practice throughout the ancient Near East. This was not a "purchase" of the bride but served to secure her financial standing.

Key Terms

The word גֵּר (ger, "foreigner/sojourner") in verse 20 designates a person who lived permanently in Israel without belonging to one of the tribes. These individuals had no inheritance rights to land and were therefore economically vulnerable. The command to protect them is grounded theologically in Israel's own experience as foreigners in Egypt.

נֶשֶׁךְ (neshekh, "interest") in verse 24 literally means "bite" and describes how interest "bites away" at the borrower's wealth. The prohibition against interest applied to loans given to poor Israelites and was intended to prevent debt slavery from arising.

The expression מְכַשֵּׁפָה (mekhashefa, "sorceress") in verse 17 refers to someone who practiced harmful magic. In the ancient Near East, such practices were viewed as attempts to manipulate divine powers and undermine social order.

Chapter-Specific Findings

Archaeological discoveries from Bronze Age Canaan confirm the economic importance of livestock described in the chapter. Seal impressions and ostraca (inscribed pottery shards) from Israelite cities show that deposit arrangements and loan contracts were widespread. An ostracon from Mesad Hashavyahu (ca. 630 B.C.) records a worker complaining about the seizure of his cloak—a direct parallel to the law concerning the pledge of cloaks in verses 25–26. This demonstrates that these laws were practiced in daily life in ancient Israel.

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Schlüsselwörter9

Restoration — The act of returning something to its original condition or correcting a wrong.
Theft — The illegal act of taking someone else's property without permission, with the intent to keep it.
Compensation — Payment given to a person for loss or damage they have suffered, usually in the form of money.
Sacrifice — A gift or action performed to honor a deity, often in the form of an animal that is killed and presented to God.
Sorcery — The practice of using magical powers, often regarded as evil and forbidden in religious texts.
Blasphemy — The act of speaking disrespectfully about God or holy things, considered a serious sin.
Foreigner — A person who comes from another country or culture and lives temporarily or permanently in a new community.
Widow — A woman whose spouse has died and who has not remarried.
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