18 "If men have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist , and he does not die but remains in bed , 19 if he gets up and walks around outside on his staff , then he who struck him shall go unpunished ; he shall only pay for his loss of time , and shall take care of him until he is completely healed . 20 "If a man strikes his male or female slave e with a rod and he dies at his hand , he shall be punished . 21 "If , however , he survives a day or two, no vengeance shall be taken ; for he is his property .
22 "If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely , yet there is no injury , he shall surely be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. 23 "But if there is any further injury , then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life , 24 eye for eye , tooth for tooth , hand for hand , foot for foot , 25 burn for burn , wound for wound , bruise for bruise .
26 "If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave e , and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye . 27 "And if he knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave e , he shall let him go free on account of his tooth . 28 "If an ox gores a man or a woman to death , the ox shall surely be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten ; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished . 29 "If , however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned , yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman , the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death . 30 "If a ransom is demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever e is demanded of him. 31 "Whether it gores a son or a daughter , it shall be done to him according to the same rule . 32 "If the ox gores a male or female slave e , the owner shall give his or her master thirty shekels of silver , and the ox shall be stoned . 33 "If a man opens a pit , or digs a pit and does not cover it over, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restitution ; he shall give money to its owner , and the dead animal shall become his. 35 "If one man's ox hurts another's so that it dies , then they shall sell the live ox and divide its price equally; and also they shall divide the dead ox. 36 "Or if it is known that the ox was previously in the habit of goring , yet its owner has not confined it, he shall surely pay ox for ox , and the dead animal shall become his.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 21:18-36
Commentary on Exodus 21:12-21
(Read Exodus 21:12-21)
God, who by his providence gives and maintains life, by his law protects it. A wilful murderer shall be taken even from God's altar. But God provided cities of refuge to protect those whose unhappiness it was, and not their fault, to cause the death of another; for such as by accident, when a man is doing a lawful act, without intent of hurt, happens to kill another. Let children hear the sentence of God's word upon the ungrateful and disobedient; and remember that God will certainly requite it, if they have ever cursed their parents, even in their hearts, or have lifted up their hands against them, except they repent, and flee for refuge to the Saviour. And let parents hence learn to be very careful in training up their children, setting them a good example, especially in the government of their passions, and in praying for them; taking heed not to provoke them to wrath. Through poverty the Israelites sometimes sold themselves or their children; magistrates sold some persons for their crimes, and creditors were in some cases allowed to sell their debtors who could not pay. But "man-stealing," the object of which is to force another into slavery, is ranked in the New Testament with the greatest crimes. Care is here taken, that satisfaction be made for hurt done to a person, though death do not follow. The gospel teaches masters to forbear, and to moderate threatenings, Job 31:13,14.
Commentary on Exodus 21:22-36
(Read Exodus 21:22-36)
The cases here mentioned give rules of justice then, and still in use, for deciding similar matters. We are taught by these laws, that we must be very careful to do no wrong, either directly or indirectly. If we have done wrong, we must be very willing to make it good, and be desirous that nobody may lose by us.