Exodus 21:12-27

Concerning Murder and Bodily Injuries

v. 12. He that smiteth a man, strikes him down with deliberate intention, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. The reference seems to be to a murder committed in the heat of anger or in a condition of intoxication.

v. 13. And if a man lie not in wait, does not seek a man's life with deliberate intent, but God deliver him into his hand, God permits it to happen in that manner that a man kills another by accident, then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. The Lord later designated certain cities as cities of refuge, Numbers 35:11; Deuteronomy 19:1-2 Samuel :.

v. 14. But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor, to slay him with guile, if he has deliberately planned the crime and carried it out in cold blood, thou shalt take him from Mine altar that he may die; in that case it would not even avail the murderer to seek the refuge of the sanctuary. Because he has broken down the sacred wall which protected his neighbor, therefore it would also, in his case, not be a violation of the altar of God to tear him away from its protection and put him to death.

v. 15. And he that smiteth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death. So highly was the honor of parents esteemed in the sight of God that the mere act of striking either of them was equivalent to manslaughter, to cold-blooded murder, and was punished accordingly.

v. 16. And he that stealeth a man and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. Man-stealing, as a violent abuse of one's neighbor's person, of his dignity as a human being, was also placed on a plane with murder.

v. 17. And he that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. Since the cursing and reviling of parents flows from the same wicked disposition of mind as striking them,

v. 15. the same punishment is decreed by God.

v. 18. And if men strive together, in a quarrel which culminates in physical violence, and one smite another with a stone or with his fist, with a clod, and he die not, but keepeth his bed, is confined to his bed in consequence of the blow;

v. 19. if he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit, be released from the probable charge of manslaughter; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed; he shall make good the loss occasioned by the enforced idleness and pay the doctor bills and the medicine.

v. 20. And if a man smite his servant or his maid, his male or his female slave, with a rod, and he die under his hand, he shall be surely punished, be required to give satisfaction.

v. 21. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two before dying, and it be shown in this way that it was not the master's intention to commit murder outright, he shall not be punished; for he is his money, the slave was the master's property, and in such a case it would not stand to reason that he had deliberately and purposely killed the slave. The law was intended to prevent ruthless exhibitions of temper and cold-blooded murders.

v. 22. If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, the pregnant woman interposing between the quarreling men, so that her fruit depart from her, that a miscarriage occurs, and yet no mischief follow, if the woman herself is not injured and if her ability to bear children is not impaired, he shall be surely punished, that is, the guilty man, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine; the injured parties being awarded damages according to the merits of the case.

v. 23. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,

v. 24. eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

v. 25. burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. That was the law of retaliation as it could be invoked by such as sought indemnity for injuries: the injured woman might demand expiation according to the degree of' her hurt. That was the ordinance so far as free Israelites were concerned.

v. 26. And if a man smite the eye of his servant or the eye of his maid that it perish, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. No distinction is made between deliberate cruelty and an unintentional blow, the effect alone being registered.

v. 27. And if he smite out his man-servant's tooth or his maid-servant's tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake. The loss, not only of some member of the body, but even of a single tooth, as a result of the master's treatment, entitled the slave to his freedom. So far as Christians are concerned, they know that they should not hurt nor harm their neighbor in his body. They will not insist upon any law of retaliation, as the granting of indemnities is a function of the government, but will keep in mind the Lord's admonition to kindness and placableness.