Topical Bible: Theft: Mosaic Law Respecting

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Topical Encyclopedia

Theft, as addressed in the Mosaic Law, is a significant concern within the legal and moral framework of ancient Israel. The Mosaic Law, given to the Israelites through Moses, provides detailed instructions on how to handle cases of theft, emphasizing restitution, justice, and the maintenance of community integrity.

Definition and Prohibition

Theft is explicitly prohibited in the Ten Commandments, which serve as the foundational ethical code for the Israelites. Exodus 20:15 states succinctly, "You shall not steal." This commandment underscores the sanctity of personal property and the importance of respecting the possessions of others.

Restitution and Penalties

The Mosaic Law prescribes specific penalties for theft, focusing on restitution rather than punitive measures alone. Exodus 22:1-4 outlines the requirements for restitution: "If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him. But if it happens after sunrise, there is guilt for his blood. A thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he must be sold for his theft."

This passage highlights several key principles: the thief must compensate the victim with more than what was stolen, reflecting the gravity of the offense and the disruption caused. The law also considers the circumstances of the theft, such as whether it occurs during the day or night, affecting the severity of the response.

Protection of Property

The Mosaic Law includes provisions to protect property and prevent theft. Deuteronomy 19:14 warns against moving boundary markers: "You must not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your ancestors in the inheritance you will receive in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess." This law safeguards land ownership and prevents deceitful encroachment on another's property.

Social and Economic Considerations

The Mosaic Law also addresses the social and economic dimensions of theft. Leviticus 19:13 commands, "You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand." This directive extends the concept of theft to include economic exploitation and emphasizes fair treatment in labor relations.

Theft and Community Integrity

The laws concerning theft are designed to maintain the integrity and harmony of the community. By ensuring that justice is served and restitution is made, the Mosaic Law seeks to restore relationships and prevent ongoing conflict. Numbers 5:6-7 instructs, "Tell the Israelites that when a man or woman acts unfaithfully against the LORD by committing any sin against another, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add a fifth of the value to it, and give it all to the one he has wronged."

Conclusion

The Mosaic Law's approach to theft reflects a comprehensive understanding of justice, emphasizing restitution, protection of property, and the maintenance of social order. Through these laws, the Israelites were called to uphold a standard of righteousness that honored both God and neighbor.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 22:1-8
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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Exposition of the Moral Law.
... murder which the soul commits is wrath and hatred; the theft, covetousness and ... Moses,
the giver of an evangelical, to supply the deficiency of the Mosaic Law. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 exposition of the.htm

A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification, by Faith in Jesus ...
... No, if he do it before faith make this in the spirit of a man, by the dictates of
human nature, respecting the law, as that, by the obeying of which, he must ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a defence of the doctrine.htm

The Old Testament and Comparative Religion
... it may be said that during the pre-Mosaic period the ... Between the prologue and the
epilogue is the law code proper. ... of judgment by a judge; 6-8, Theft; 9-13 ...
/.../eiselen/the christian view of the old testament/chapter v the old testament.htm

Period iii. The Critical Period: AD 140 to AD 200
... [I:Tim.6:16.] I have committed no theft; but if ... the relation of Greek philosophy
to the Mosaic dispensation and ... sort of body which is not under the law, ie, of ...
/.../a source book for ancient church history/period iii the critical period .htm