EXODUS 21
28 “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. 29 But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, 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 imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him. 31 If it gores a man’s son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to this same rule. 32 If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekelsof silver, and the ox shall be stoned. 33 “When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restoration. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead beast shall be his. 35 “When one man’s ox butts another’s, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and share its price, and the dead beast also they shall share. 36 Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his. – Exodus 21:28-36
EXODUS 21 LAWS REGARDING ANIMAL CONTROL & RESTITUTION
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When we own animals, we are responsible for them
If they hurt someone, there ought to be restitution to the aggrieved
The Lord ensures that human life is more precious to him than beasts
He sets boundaries to owners of animals to keep human life preserved.
Isn’t it interesting that God didn’t forget animals in these following laws stipulated in this account? You will see that humans are expected to have control over their animals. As Genesis 1:26-28 says God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” It shouldn’t be a surprise if God calls man out to be responsible for their animals and the damage they may have caused. Restitution to the aggrieved must be paid off in order for the owners to manifest their accountability for their animals. Sadly, in our world today, we sometimes forget the boundaries through laws that God gave for us to follow. We violate them.
REFLECTION
- How can domesticating animals be a danger for us to violate God’s boundaries?
