Exodus 21:1-36

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 21:28

(28) The ox shall be surely stoned—i.e., he shall die the death of a murderer.His flesh shall not be eaten.—An ox killed by stoning would not be bled in the usual way, and would be “unclean” food for Hebrews. According to the Rabbis, the flesh might not even be disposed of to the Gentiles, but had to be buried. If this were so, the object must have been to mark strongly that whatever creature took human life was accursed. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 21:28-32

(28-32) Injuries to the person might arise either from man or from animals. Protection from both was needed. The law given to Noah (Genesis 9:5) had already laid it down that whenever a beast killed a man his life was to be forfeit. This law was now re-enacted, but with a further and very important proviso. If the animal had an owner, and the owner had reason to know that it was dangerous, then not only the beast, but the owner also was to be held guilty. He was to be liable to a process for... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 21:29

(29) His owner also shall be put to death.—It seems clear that under this law the representatives of the slain person might have exacted life for life; but probably they would in almost all cases have been ready to accept a compensation. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 21:30

(30) Whatsoever is laid upon him.—Primarily, by the aggrieved relatives; but in the case of an exorbitant demand there was, no doubt, an appeal to the judges, who would then fix the amount. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 21:33

(33) If a man shall open a pit.—Rather, uncover a well. The wells in the East commonly have covers, which are removed when water is drawn, and then replaced. If a man neglected to replace a cover, he was rightly answerable for any damage that might ensue. The case was the same if he dug a new well, and neglected to cover it over. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 21:33-36

LAWS CONCERNING THE RIGHTS OF PROPERTY.(33-36) The legislation slides from rights of persons to rights of property easily and without effort, by passing from the injuries which cattle cause to those which they suffer. They are injured (1) by the culpable laches of persons leaving their pits uncovered; (2) by hurts which one man’s cattle inflict upon another’s. Both kinds of loss have to be made good. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 21:34

(34) The dead beast shall be his.—Having paid the full value of the live animal, the owner of the well was entitled to make what he could by the carcass. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 21:35-36

(35-36) if one man’s ox hurt another’s.—Where no blame attached to the owner, the loss was to be equally shared. Where the dangerous character of the animal was, or ought to have been, known, the man whose ox was killed received its full value. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Exodus 21:1-36

Exodus 21:1 The Maker's Laws, whether they are promulgated in Sinai thunder, to the ear or imagination, or quite otherwise promulgated, are the Laws of God; transcendent, everlasting, demanding obedience from all men. The Universe is made by Law; the great Soul of the World is just and not unjust. Look then, if thou have eyes or soul left, into this Shoreless Incomprehensible; into the heart of its tumultuous Appearances, Embroilments and mad Time-Vortexes, is there not, silent, eternal, an... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Exodus 21:1-32

CHAPTER XXI.THE LESSER LAW (continued).PART II.--RIGHTS OF THE PERSON.Exodus 21:1-32.The first words of God from Sinai had declared that He was Jehovah Who brought them out of slavery. And in this remarkable code, the first person whose rights are dealt with is the slave. We saw that a denunciation of all slavery would have been premature, and therefore unwise; but assuredly the germs of emancipation were already planted by this giving of the foremost place to the rights of the least of all and... read more

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