(These
are Old Testament judgments given by God to Moses to be delivered to
the people of that time. However, these judgments do show the Heart of
God concerning various evils and God's view of justice.)
1
If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he
shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
3
If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he
should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold
for his theft. 4 If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive,
whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
5
If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in
his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own
field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
6
If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or
the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled
the fire shall surely make restitution.
7 If a
man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be
stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay
double. 8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall
be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his
neighbour's goods.
9 For all manner of
trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for
any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause
of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall
condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
10
If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or
any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man
seeing it:11 Then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both, that
he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it
shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good. 12 And if it be
stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof. 13 If
it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall
not make good that which was torn.
14 And if a
man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner
thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good. 15 But if the
owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good:if it be an hired
thing, it came for his hire.
16 And if a man
entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely
endow her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her
unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
19 Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him:for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict
them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their
cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword;
and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
25
If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt
not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. 26
If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt
deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:27 For that is his
covering only, it is his raiment for his skin:wherein shall he sleep?
and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for
I am gracious.
28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
29
Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy
liquors:the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. 30 Likewise
shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep:seven days it shall be
with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
31
And ye shall be holy men unto me:neither shall ye eat any flesh that is
torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
==========
Comments by Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
In these OT laws, we see how God feels about various sins.
- Defrauding another person: This costs you more in the end than the original matter was worth. Therefore be fair to others in all your dealings.
- To do harm through carelessness: you are responsible for the harm you have done. (This of harming others needlessly with your words.)
- If you borrow, you are responsible for that which you borrow.
- A man is accountable for sexual sins and is required to do right by the woman.
- Witches will die ... Those who try to imagine the future without hearing from God will end up being put away from the congregation. Those who live in superstitions will be put away.
- Beware of afflicting widows & orphans.
(opposite example: man who helped "orphan" ... Unknown to me, my mailbox fell over. A neighbor saw this and fixed the mailbox. It was fixed before I even knew there was a problem. Will not God bless this man?)
- Usury against a brother ... just don't do it ... If you lend to a brother in Christ, don't exact more than you loaned.
- Do not curse ruler. (Examples in OT: Even those taken in captivity helped their masters. Remember the story of the Hebrew slave girl who wanted Namman, her master, to go to prophet for she knew the prophet could rid Namman of his leprosy. She was kind to ruler even though she was a captive.)
- Give your best to God.
- Be holy to God ... Do what is right in sight of God.
-