Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. He shall restore double.] In no case of theft was the life of the offender taken away; the utmost that the law says on this point is, that, if when found breaking into a house, he should be smitten so as to die, no blood should be shed for him; Exodus xxii. 2. If he had stolen and sold the property, then he was to restore four or fivefold, ver. 1; but if the animal was found alive in his possession, he was to restore double.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Judicial laws.
--The people of God should ever be ready to show mildness and mercy according to the spirit of these laws. We must answer to God, not onl for what we do maliciously, but for what we do heedlessly. Therefore when we have done harm to our neighbour, we should make restitution though not compelled by law. Let these scriptures lead our souls to remember, that if the grace of God has indeed appeared to us, then i has taught us, and enabled us so to conduct ourselves by its holy power, that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should liv soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, Tit 2:12. An the grace of God teaches us, that as the Lord is our portion, there is enough in him to satisfy all the desires of our souls _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew אם518 המצא4672 תמצא4672 בידו3027 הגנבה1591 משׁור7794 עד5704 חמור2543 עד5704 שׂה7716 חיים2416 שׁנים8147 ישׁלם׃7999
