1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it ; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
Note · Exode 22.1
La restitution porte sur le tort commis
La perte d’un animal volé puis abattu ou vendu appelle une réparation supérieure à sa valeur seule. Le cas vise un dommage concret. Cette disposition appartient à un ensemble judiciaire ; elle ne confie pas à la personne lésée un pouvoir de sanction sans mesure ni examen des faits.
2 If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.
3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him ; he shall make restitution : if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4 If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall pay double.
5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall let his beast loose, and it 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 shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed ; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
Note · Exode 22.2–6
La défense et la négligence ont des limites
La différence entre effraction nocturne et situation de jour empêche de traiter toute mort du voleur de la même manière. Les dégâts causés par les bêtes ou le feu engagent aussi une responsabilité. Le souci de protéger un bien n’efface donc pas toute distinction entre les circonstances.
7 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house ; if the thief be found, he shall pay double.
8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods.
9 For every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, whereof one saith, This is it, the cause of both parties shall come before God ; he whom God shall condemn shall pay double unto his neighbor.
10 If a man deliver unto his neighbor 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 the oath of Jehovah shall be between them both, whether he hath not put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods ; and the owner thereof shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.
12 But if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
13 If it be torn in pieces, let him bring it for witness : he shall not make good that which was torn.
14 And if a man borrow aught of his neighbor, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof not being with it, he shall surely make restitution.
15 If the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good : if it be a hired thing, it came for its hire.
Note · Exode 22.7–15
Garder pour autrui oblige à rendre compte
Les cas de dépôt, de garde et de prêt cherchent à distinguer fraude, accident et risque assumé. Les traductions hésitent parfois entre une comparution devant Dieu et devant les juges. Le sens général reste celui d’un litige qui demande examen, preuve ou serment plutôt qu’accusation arbitraire.
16 And if a man entice a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for 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 sorceress to live.
19 Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto Jehovah only, shall be utterly destroyed.
Note · Exode 22.16–20
Des prescriptions anciennes à lire sans violence transposée
Le cadre du mariage donne ici au père une place de décision qui ne suffit pas à exprimer le consentement personnel de la femme. Les condamnations capitales concernant magie, pratiques sexuelles et culte rival ne donnent pas à une communauté chrétienne le droit de poursuivre ou d’agresser des personnes au nom de ces versets.
21 And a sojourner shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him : for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
23 If thou afflict them at all, 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 with thee that is poor, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor ; neither shall ye lay upon him interest.
26 If thou at all take thy neighbor’s garment to pledge, thou shalt restore it unto him before the sun goeth down :
27 for that is his only covering, it is his garment 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.
Note · Exode 22.21–27
Le cri du vulnérable compte devant Dieu
Le souvenir d’avoir été étranger doit devenir une conduite envers l’étranger présent. Le prêt et le gage ne doivent pas priver le pauvre de ce qui lui permet de dormir ou de vivre. La compassion de Dieu est reliée à des décisions économiques concrètes, non à une générosité seulement déclarée.
28 Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people.
29 Thou shalt not delay to offer of thy harvest, and of the outflow of thy presses. The first-born 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 its dam ; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
31 And ye shall be holy men unto me : therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field ; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
Note · Exode 22.28–31
La consécration ne dispense pas de lire l’ensemble
Les prémices et les premiers-nés expriment l’appartenance à Dieu. Pour les fils, cette demande doit être lue avec le rachat prescrit en Exode 13, et non comme un ordre de sacrifice humain. Le respect de Dieu et des responsables n’interdit pas la dénonciation d’une injustice réelle.