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Text: Exodus 22: 1-4

MEDITATION

Exodus 22:1-4

1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
2 If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed.
3 If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4 If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double.

MEANINGFUL APPLICATION TO LIFE

1. The problem of theft of animals

a. The stealing of an ox.

b. The stealing of sheep.

c. Killing the stolen animals.

d. Selling the stolen animals.

2. Trial of the thief
(This is not stated specifically but understood)

a. The thief would have to be caught.

b. He would be brought before a judge.

3. Upon conviction

a. Penalty imposed for stealing an ox:

i. There is a fivefold penalty.

ii. The thief has to return five oxen for the one he had stolen.

b. Penalty imposed for stealing a sheep:

i. There is a fourfold penalty.

ii. The thief has to return four sheep for the one he had stolen.

c. There is a strong punitive element in the implementation of the law.

4. A housebreaker

a. A thief can also break into a house to steal things.

b. If he is found out and resisted by the householder and he is struck severely in the scuffle:

i. A night scene
If the thief dies, no guilt is attached to the householder.

ii. A day scene
If the thief dies, the householder would be held accountable.
He may have used excessive force deliberately.

5. Full restitution

a. This is the key word.

b. The thief must make full restitution.

c. He may be sold for his crime if he cannot make full restitution.

6. If the animal is found alive

a. Ox

b. Donkey

c. Sheep

7. The thief must make restitution

a. He has to pay double.

b. The punitive element is added to the principle of restitution.

经文：出埃及记 22:1-4

沉思

《出埃及记 22:1-4》
1“人若偷牛或羊，无论是宰了是卖了，他就要以五牛赔一牛，四羊赔一羊。
2人若遇见贼挖窟窿，把贼打了，以至于死，就不能为他有流血的罪。
3若太阳已经出来，就为他有流血的罪。贼若被拿，总要赔还。若他一无所有，就要被卖，顶他所偷的物。

4若他所偷的，或牛，或驴，或羊，仍在他手下存活，他就要加倍赔还。

在生活里有意义地应用

1. 偷窃动物的问题

a. 偷窃牛

b. 偷窃羊

c. 宰了偷来的动物

d. 卖了偷来的动物

2. 贼的审判 （这里虽没有明说，但可以理解）

a. 贼要被逮捕

b. 他必须被带到法官面前

3. 一旦定罪

a. 偷牛的处罚：

i. 五倍的赔偿

ii. 小偷必须用五头牛来赔偿偷走的那一头

b. 偷羊的处罚：

i. 四倍的赔偿

ii. 小偷必须用四只羊来赔偿偷走的那一只

c. 法律的执行带着强大的惩罚性元素

4. 贼

a. 贼也可以闯入房屋偷东西

b. 如果被屋主逮到，而在混战中被打

i. 夜景

如果贼死了，屋主并无罪

ii. 白昼

如果贼死了，屋主将被追究责任

他可能有意地使用全力

5. 完全赔偿

a. 这是重点

b. 贼必须完全赔偿

c. 如果他无法完全赔偿，他就得被卖，顶他所偷的物

6. 如果动物还存活

a. 牛

b. 驴

c. 羊

7. 贼要赔偿

a. 他要加倍赔还

b. 赔偿的理论带着惩罚性元素