Exodus 22

Read Exodus 22 here or at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraphs:

22:1-4 {s} Restitution when a theft is discovered
22:5 {s} Restitution when an animal feeds in another man’s field
22:6 {s} Restitution when fire destroys a harvest
22:7-9 {s} Restitution when goods are lost from a neighbor’s safe- keeping
22:10-13 {p} Restitution when goods are destroyed from a neighbor’s safe- keeping
22:14-15 {s} Restitution when goods are borrowed
22:16-17 {s} Restitution when a virgin is seduced
22:18-19 {s} Sorceress = death penalty / lying with animals = death penalty
22:20-24 {p} Idolaters and afflicters of strangers, widows, orphans = utterly destroyed
22:25-27 {s} Not coveting interest or collateral from your neighbor
22:28-31 {s} Not coveting what belongs to God

The next Strong Themes:

First,

21:28-32 {s} Restitution when an ox gores a person to death
21:33-34 {s} Restitution when a pit causes the death of an animal
21:35-36 {s} Restitution when an ox causes the death of an animal
22:1-4 {s} Restitution when a theft is discovered
22:5 {s} Restitution when an animal feeds in another man’s field
22:6 {s} Restitution when fire destroys a harvest
22:7-9 {s} Restitution when goods are lost from a neighbor’s safe- keeping
22:10-13 {p} Restitution when goods are destroyed from a neighbor’s safe- keeping

The theme is, of course, restitution. Restitution, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is an act of restoring or a condition of being restored, such as: a restoration of something to its rightful owner; a making good or giving an equivalent for some injury. The Hebrew word is Strong’s H7999 שלם shalam, a primitive root meaning, “to be whole, sound, or safe.” This is the primitive root of shalom, “peace.” When the loss of something has occurred, restitution makes up the loss so that completeness, shalam, is restored.

There is no concept in Torah of prison for either murder or other capital crimes, or theft. Murder is resolved by the death penalty, and theft is resolved by restitution, after which the offender is free to resume his life.

21:28-22:13 {sx7+p} Strong Theme: Restitution when a thing causes injury, death, or loss of property (‘You shall not steal’)

Next,

22:14-15 {s} Restitution when goods are borrowed
22:16-17 {s} Restitution when a virgin is seduced
22:18-19 {s} Sorceress = death penalty / lying with animals = death penalty
22:20-24 {p} Idolaters and afflicters of strangers, widows, orphans = utterly destroyed

These four paragraphs continue the explanation of what happens when a loss occurs. At times it is lawful to make restitution, or to restore to shalom; and at times, for certain heinous crimes, there can be no restitution, and the only remedy is capital punishment.

Why does the Strong Theme contain a paragraph about a sorceress?

The Hebrew is a verb, not a noun: One who uses sorcery or enchantment shall not live. As a verb it is not restricted to the female gender that I can tell. But female enchanters were common among the Canaanites, where Israel was going, and the unregenerate female is strongly drawn to use manipulation, of which sorcery is a form, to enforce her often malign will.

Notice that the text surrounding the sorceress explains the judgment for crimes which rely on manipulation and oppression. Seduction coerces someone who likely had no intention to sin; animals are an unwilling participant in bestiality, and oppressors and idolaters incur YHVH’s wrath when they lord it over widows, orphans, and strangers, who, like virgins or animals, have no power to resist what is being done to them.

22:14-24 {sx3+p} Strong Theme: When restitution is not to be made (‘You shall not commit adultery’)

If there are questions, these are good resources:

Shalom, “peace,” Strong’s H7965 Hebrew Root word parable – Christine Miller
Exo 21:28-22:13 Chiastic Structure – Christine Miller
Exo 22:14-24 Chiastic Structure – Christine Miller
Exo 22:14-24 Hebrew Root words – Christine Miller