1 of 18

Exodus 22:1-15

Restitution for a Reason

2 of 18

Principles of Righteousness:

  • “Be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45)
  • “Love your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:18)
  • “Don’t steal” (Exodus 20:15)

3 of 18

Principles of Righteousness:

  • “Be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45)
  • “Love your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:18)
  • “Don’t steal” (Exodus 20:15)

Application in Biblical Case Laws:

If this happens, do that!

If that happens, do this!

4 of 18

Principles of Righteousness

Application in Biblical Case Laws

Our Situations

Our Situations

Our Situations

5 of 18

Exodus 22:1-15

Restitution for a Reason

6 of 18

Exodus 22:1-15 Outline

A. Seven cases: invasion of another’s property:

1. Five cases: theft from a household (vv. 1–4).

2. Two cases: accidental crop loss (vv. 5–6).

B. Eight cases: abuse of another’s property while authorized to use it:

1. Five cases: problems when safekeeping (vv. 7–13).

2. Three cases: borrowing and renting (vv. 14–15).

7 of 18

Restitution - Shallam, שָׁלֵם

Verses 1-15 - Occurs 12 times

NASB translates is as:

  • “Restitution” - verses 3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
  • “Pay” - verses 1, 4, 7, 9.
  • Making it whole again.

8 of 18

Exodus 22:1-15 Outline

A. Seven cases: invasion of another’s property:

1. Five cases: theft from a household (vv. 1–4).

2. Two cases: accidental crop loss (vv. 5–6).

B. Eight cases: abuse of another’s property while authorized to use it:

1. Five cases: problems when safekeeping (vv. 7–13).

2. Three cases: borrowing and renting (vv. 14–15).

9 of 18

Proverbs 6:30–31

“Men do not despise a thief if he steals To satisfy himself when he is hungry; 31 But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the substance of his house.”

10 of 18

Exodus 22:1-15

Restitution for a Reason

11 of 18

Matthew 5:25–26

“Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.”

12 of 18

Exodus 22:1-15 Outline

A. Seven cases: invasion of another’s property:

1. Five cases: theft from a household (vv. 1–4).

2. Two cases: accidental crop loss (vv. 5–6).

B. Eight cases: abuse of another’s property while authorized to use it:

1. Five cases: problems when safekeeping (vv. 7–13).

2. Three cases: borrowing and renting (vv. 14–15).

13 of 18

Exodus 22:1-15 Outline

A. Seven cases: invasion of another’s property:

1. Five cases: theft from a household (vv. 1–4).

2. Two cases: accidental crop loss (vv. 5–6).

B. Eight cases: abuse of another’s property while authorized to use it:

1. Five cases: problems when safekeeping (vv. 7–13).

2. Three cases: borrowing and renting (vv. 14–15).

14 of 18

Who are “the Elohim” in 22:8-9

“… the owner of the house shall appear before the judges, to determine whether he laid his hands on his neighbor’s property… for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.

  • Human judges

  • God Almighty

  • Teraphim (household ancestors)

15 of 18

Exodus 22:1-15

Restitution for a Reason

16 of 18

Exodus 22:1-15 Outline

A. Seven cases: invasion of another’s property:

1. Five cases: theft from a household (vv. 1–4).

2. Two cases: accidental crop loss (vv. 5–6).

B. Eight cases: abuse of another’s property while authorized to use it:

1. Five cases: problems when safekeeping (vv. 7–13).

2. Three cases: borrowing and renting (vv. 14–15).

17 of 18

Observations

  1. Primacy of victim restoration.
  2. Community vs. specialists.
  3. Addressing the sin with God.

18 of 18

Ephesians 4:28

“He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.”