1 'When a man doth steal an ox or sheep, and hath slaughtered it or sold it, five of the herd he doth repay for the ox, and four of the flock for the 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 in the breaking through, the thief is found, and he hath been smitten, and hath died, there is no blood for him ;
3 if the sun hath risen upon him, blood [is] for him, he doth certainly repay ; if he have nothing, then he hath been sold for his theft ;
4 if the theft is certainly found in his hand alive, whether ox, or ass, or sheep — double he repayeth.
5 'When a man depastureth a field or vineyard, and hath sent out his beast, and it hath pastured in the field of another, [of] the best of his field, and the best of his vineyard, he doth repay.
6 'When fire goeth forth, and hath found thorns, and a stack, or the standing corn, or the field, hath been consumed, he who causeth the burning doth certainly repay.
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 'When a man doth give unto his neighbour silver, or vessels to keep, and it hath been stolen out of the man's house ; if the thief is found, he repayeth double.
8 'If the thief is not found, then the master of the house hath been brought near unto God, whether he hath not put forth his hand against the work of his neighbour ;
9 for every matter of transgression, for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, for any lost thing of which it is said that it is his ; unto God cometh the matter of them both ; he whom God doth condemn, he repayeth double to his neighbour.
10 'When a man doth give unto his neighbour an ass, or ox, or sheep, or any beast to keep, and it hath died, or hath been hurt, or taken captive, none seeing —
11 an oath of Jehovah is between them both, that he hath not put forth his hand against the work of his neighbour, and its owner hath accepted, and he doth not repay ;
12 but if it is certainly stolen from him, he doth repay to its owner ;
13 if it is certainly torn, he bringeth it in — a witness ; the torn thing he doth not repay.
14 'And when a man doth ask [anything] from his neighbour, and it hath been hurt or hath died — its owner not being with it — he doth certainly repay ;
15 if its owner [is] with it, he doth not repay, — if it [is] a hired thing, it hath come 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 when a man doth entice a virgin who [is] not betrothed, and hath lain with her, he doth certainly endow her to himself for a wife ;
17 if her father utterly refuse to give her to him, money he doth weigh out according to the dowry of virgins.
18 'A witch thou dost not keep alive.
19 'Whoever lieth with a beast is certainly put to death.
20 'He who is sacrificing to a god, save to Jehovah alone, is devoted.
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 thou dost not oppress, nor crush him, for sojourners ye have been in the land of Egypt.
22 'Any widow or orphan ye do not afflict ;
23 if thou dost really afflict him, surely if he at all cry unto Me, I certainly hear his cry ;
24 and Mine anger hath burned, and I have slain you by the sword, and your wives have been widows, and your sons orphans.
25 'If thou dost lend My poor people with thee money, thou art not to him as a usurer ; thou dost not lay on him usury ;
26 if thou dost at all take in pledge the garment of thy neighbour, during the going in of the sun thou dost return it to him :
27 for it alone is his covering, it [is] his garment for his skin ; wherein doth he lie down ? and it hath come to pass, when he doth cry unto Me, that I have heard, 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 'God thou dost not revile, and a prince among thy people thou dost not curse.
29 'Thy fulness and thy liquids thou dost not delay ; the first-born of thy sons thou dost give to Me ;
30 so thou dost to thine ox, to thy sheep ; seven days it is with its dam, on the eighth day thou dost give it to Me.
31 'And ye are holy men to Me, and flesh torn in the field ye do not eat, to a dog ye do cast it.
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.