Exodus 22:7-15 – Don’t take others for granted

In the first six verses of Exodus 22, theft and negligence were considered. Verses 7-15 provided regulation in what to do with an irresponsible person who had been entrusted to look after another person’s belonging. When a person is going away, he normally could not take all his belongings with him. He would seek the assistance of his neighbour to look after them. The neighbour who had accepted the responsibility was expected to be dependable and accountable. When that person had returned home from his travel and the belonging were intact, then everything would be well and good. However, here in verses 7-15, God gave some law to cover situations where property entrusted to a neighbour’s care was lost or stolen.

In the scenario of verse 7, “If a man gives his neighbour money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the man’s house, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double.” Dealing with such a case would be quite straightforward. The thief who was caught had to pay double. The problem would become tricky when the thief was not caught. The case would be brought before a judge who would mediate the case. If the neighbour was found guilty to have taken what belonged to the owner who had entrusted the belonging to his care, he would have to make restitution. He had to pay double to the owner. But if he had told the truth and truly the belonging was stolen, he would not be required to make good what was stolen.  

Verses 10-11 show us that the same regulation applied concerning livestock entrusted to the neighbour’s care. “If a man gives his neighbour a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is hurt or is driven away while no one is looking, an oath before the Lord shall be made by the two of them that he has not laid hands on his neighbour’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.” The owner had to take the neighbour at his word and just accept the situation. The latter was not required to make restitution. But if a neighbour entrusted to do the safekeeping was found to be negligent, he would be required to make restitution.

The law given here may seem harsh, but they are set to ensure peaceful existence within a community. What God laid down here was to prevent misunderstanding between neighbours. People living together should look out and help each other out. The lesson from these verses: we must learn to be responsible friends and neighbours. We don’t take each other for granted. When we take on a responsibility to help a friend or neighbour, we must do our best. Friendship could be jeopardized when we become careless and irresponsible, taking others for granted.