INTRODUCTION:

(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV])
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV])
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

All of the studies found here, whether book studies or topical studies, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history recorded in the Word of God and in any ancient records from many, which records support it, plus archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, nor lexicons, nor concordances, nor commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief, apostasy, and a falling away from God Himself. We do not need them. That Word of God, written and preserved for us in our own language, is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and as the New Testament was for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc.

Tyndale Bible
Coverdale Bible
Matthew's Bible
Great Bible
Geneva Bible
Bishop's Bible
King James/Authorized Bible

There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:

(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

(1 Thessalonians 2:13 [KJV])
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!

Introduction/Start of study

Exodus Chapter 22: DEALING WITH PEOPLE, MORE ANIMAL LAWS

(Exodus 22:1 [KJV])
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.

Restitution for the loss of the owner, to the owner, by numbers, as a fine
This thief cannot return it as they no longer have it, either being dead or sold to someone else

(Exodus 22:2 [KJV])
If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.

Apparently this is if the thief was in there unawares and frightened the owner

(Exodus 22:3 [KJV])
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.

Apparently this is if the thief was seen in the daytime doing this and was not told to leave, warned, but first injured in haste
It was supposed that it was apparent that this person came not to kill, but only to steal, so not deserving of death, making it a death penalty crime jjust to kill him instead of chasing him outm, or making him restore what he stole, pay back with penalty, etc.

(Exodus 22:4 [KJV])
If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.

This is a lesson not to steal, as just putting a person in jail or prison does nothing for the loss to the owner of his value in the animal(s)

(Exodus 22:5 [KJV])
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.

What this means is that there was no agreement before and this person simply allowed, carelessly or deliberately, their animal to eat a crop that another tended, amounting to stealing
Loss of money, to be returned, as though they stole it themselves

(Exodus 22:6 [KJV])
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.

Clearing fields by fire is done worldwide, to this day
Carelessly or deliberately letting it consume someone else's property because no proecautions were taken robs the neighbor of their field
Watching the wind direction, as well as backfires to make a line of dirt and no fire fuel do prevent this

ENTRUSTING, RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, with the property of others

MATTHEW HENRY:
" II. Concerning loans, Exod 22:14; Exod 22:15. If a man (suppose) lent his team to his neighbour, if the owner was with it, or was to receive profit for the loan of it, whatever harm befel the cattle the owner must stand to the loss of: but if the owner was so kind to the borrower as to lend it to him gratis, and put such a confidence in him as to trust it from under his own eye, then, if any harm happened, the borrower must make it good. Let us learn hence to be very careful not to abuse any thing that is lent us; it is not only unjust, but base and disingenuous, inasmuch as it is rendering evil for good; we should much rather choose to lose ourselves than that any should sustain loss by their kindness to us. Alas, master! for it was borrowed, 2 Kings vi. 5."

(Exodus 22:7 [KJV])
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. 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. 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.

Responsibility for taking care of things we borrow, and responsibility to restore things we steal
Personal responsibility, lacking in our world today a lot

(Exodus 22:10-11 [KJV])
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: 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.

The person to blame here is unknown, or no one but perhaps disease or an accident
When it is in our hands to take care of animals, we must be and b held responsible
When it is in another's hands that person whose hands it is in (whoever drove the animal away) or no one's hands, as in it dies from no fault of the keeper, as it was taken from his hands unawares to him

(Exodus 22:12-15 [KJV])
And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof. If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn. 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. 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.

You steal, you give back
You irresponsibly let others steal, you return, you help the owner track down that thief
One cannot, even the owner cannot, always prevent something being torn to pieces by a wild beast, as much as we try
This is the ultimate personal responsibility in order to prevent abuse, because one knows when borrowing that they are to treat it better than if it was their own

(Exodus 22:16 [KJV])
And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

They are one flesh, as in marriage, as in a marriage is not what is on the papers, legal, official; it is the unity of two, since the garden with Adam knowing Eve, until that day....
You want a wife now? You got one, and you owe for her. She is not your wife after this? hmmmm.that is yor price then for violating her virginity, her parents and her (unless she was fully participatory)

(Exodus 22:18 [KJV])
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

This is worshiping another god, worshiping nature, those with familiar spirits, drugs, shamanism, occultism, divination, spells, potions, poisons, satanism
Israel was to drive them out and not participate in their behavior, God knowing and warning that, if not, they would fall into their web of deceit and be entangled, and go into captivity
That is something they did repeatedly (See Judges, 1 Samuel 28:7)
Witchcraft is compared to rebellion against God by Samuel to Saul, who later on even went to athe witch at Endor to find out his fate, because witchcraft is not praying to God, but talking to the serpent

(1 Samuel 15:22-23 [KJV])
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

WITCHCRAFT, [witch and craft.]

The practices of witches; sorcery; enchantments; intercourse with the devil.
Power more than natural.
He hath a witchcraft over the king ins tongue.

(Exodus 22:19 [KJV])
Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.

There ya go, right there, write that down
This is a difference between Christianity, Judaism (from OT Scripture) and Islam, which allows this, and with little girls

(Exodus 22:20 [KJV])
He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

That would also be the witches above and all occultists, as in "strange fire, as in Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu

(Leviticus 10:1-2 [KJV])
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

(Numbers 3:4 [KJV])
And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.

(Numbers 26:61 [KJV])
And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

(Exodus 22:21-24 [KJV])
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

The treatment, and the reason
Do unto others and, it WILL happen to you
Oppress widows and orphans? Now leave behind your own widows and orphans!

(Exodus 22:25 [KJV])
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.

What this simply, clearly means is "NO INTEREST ALLOWED FOR REPAYMENT!"
Loan an amount of money, get back the same amount of money

U'SURY, n. s as z. [L. usura, from utor, to use.]

Formerly, interest; or a premium paid or stipulated to be paid for the use of money.
[Usury formerly denoted any legal interest, but in this sense, the word is no longer in use.]
In present usage, illegal interest; a premium or compensation paid or stipulated to be paid for the use of money borrowed or retained, beyond the rate of interest established by law.
The practice of taking interest. Obs.

U'SURER, n. s as z. [See Usury.]

Formerly, a person who lent money and took interest for it.
In present usage, one who lends money at a rate of interest beyond the rate established by law.

(Exodus 22:26-27 [KJV])
If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: 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.

Today we call that "taking the shirt off of their back"
Not caring about the health and life of another is wickedness, sin, evil

(Exodus 22:28 [KJV])
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Do you see the introduction on the top of this and all pages here?
This means use the context and do not privately interpret this verse, or any other
"the gods" here are the representative between man and God, the judges in Israel
The meaning is demanded to be those in places of the judgment of the nation, because they were go betweens, representing God and His Final Word, His Authority to make the law they were to live by, unchanging, unchangeable, absolute for them to determine how to live, who is right, who is wrong, speaking for God like Moses and the prophets, appointed by God to do so
God will take care of the rulers; you take care of your walk with God and leave the results to Him

THE GODS, THE JUDGES IN ISRAEL

(Psalms 82:6-7 [KJV])
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

(Isaiah 41:23 [KJV])
Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

(John 10:34-36 [KJV])
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

(Exodus 22:29 [KJV])
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.

God gets the best, as He gave them the best, as he does for us and all of the earth
Man complains, whines, moans because of sin, his own sin, not because of God W#ho is Holy, but because he reject God, lacks faith in God, denies God, blames God and not his own sin
Liquor is fermented, NON-alcoholic liquid from fruits, not intoxicating, hence the first four letters L-I-Q-U in front of both
It is merely liquid, from fruits, whether fermented, distilled or infused, just not causing drunkenness

LIQ'UOR, n. lik'or [L. liquor.]
A liquid or fluid substance. [See Liquid.] Liquor is a word of general signification, extending to water, milk, blood, say, juice, etc.; but its most common application is to spirituous fluids, whether distilled or fermented, to decoctions, solutions, tinctures.

liquor (n.)
c. 1200, likur "any matter in a liquid state, a liquid or fluid substance," from Old French licor "fluid, liquid; sap; oil" (12c., Modern French liqueur), from Latin liquorem (nominative liquor) "a liquid, liquor; wine; the sea," originally "liquidity, fluidity," from liquere "be fluid, liquid" (see liquid (adj.)).

Narrowed sense of "fermented or distilled drink" (especially wine) first recorded c. 1300; the broader sense seems to have been obsolete from c. 1700. As long as liquor is in him was a Middle English expression, "as long as he is alive," that is, "as long as he has a drop of blood left." The form in Modern English has been assimilated to Latin, but the old pronunciation persists.

(Exodus 22:30 [KJV])
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.

The best, sacrificed to God, sanctified by God, the same personal God Who gave it to them, like all else God did and does and will do forever, for Israel His people
A dam is a name for a virgin female sheep; a ewe which has no lambs, a dam is one that is a mother ewe.
Used of sheep: buck (uncastrated male), ram (male), wether (castrated male), Ewe (female), Dam (female) and

DAM, n.

A female parent; used of beasts, particularly of quadrupeds.
A human mother, in contempt.
A crowned man in the game of draughts.

Sheep:
Bucks, rams (males)
Ewes, dams (females)
Lambs, lambkins, cossets (baby/young sheep)
Drifts, droves, flocks, herds, mobs, trips (groups of sheep)

(Exodus 22:31 [KJV])
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.

This is not to waste food, unsuitable for people, diseased by vultures, flies, predators, scavengers
We love dogs and cats today, but dogs were never mentioned in Scripture nicely, including foxes and wolves
Samaritans were referred to and treated as dogs, lower class, eating scraps left over
God gave them flocks and herds when they left Egypt, and blessed them then, as now, in abundance, so tha they did not need anything and God did not let ut go to waste, but let the beasts consume it
Merely part of their holiness

Links to studies by book or topic are on the top menu.

Exodus Chapter 23