Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 21:30
If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
30. The owner of the ox may, however, escape the extreme penalty of the law, if the relatives of the man who had been killed are willing to accept a money-compensation for his life. The owner’s negligence amounted to murder only in theory, so it was reasonable to allow him his merciful alternative.
be laid on him (cf. v. 22)] viz. by the relatives of the man who has been killed.
a ransom ] Heb. kpher, the price of a life: see Exo 30:12, Psa 49:7, Pro 6:35; Pro 13:8; Pro 21:18, Isa 43:3. This and v. 32 are the only cases in which Heb. law allowed what was so common among many ancient nations, the , or ‘wergild,’ i.e. the money offered for the life of a murdered man to appease a kinsman’s wrath: see Num 35:31 f. (P), where the acceptance of a kpher is forbidden.
redemption ] The same word, in a similar connexion, Psa 49:8 (where ‘soul’ = ‘life’ here, lit. soul). For the corresponding verb, used of the redemption of a life that is forfeit, see on Exo 13:13.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 30. If there be laid on him a sum of money – the ransom of his life] So it appears that, though by the law he forfeited his life, yet this might be commuted for a pecuniary mulct, at which the life of the deceased might be valued by the magistrates.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
If there be laid on him; either by the avenger of blood, the next akin to the party slain, who is willing to exchange the punishment; or by the judge, who may discern some circumstances which may much lessen the crime, as if an ox had broken his cords wherewith he was tied, or broke forth through the carelessness or wickedness of his servant to whose care he was committed.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
30. If there be laid on him a sum ofmoney, &c.Blood fines are common among the Arabs as theywere once general throughout the East. This is the only case where amoney compensation, instead of capital punishment, was expresslyallowed in the Mosaic law.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
If there be laid on him a sum of money,…. By the decree of the judges, as Aben Ezra, or which the sanhedrim of Israel have laid upon him; if his sentence of death is commuted for a fine, with the consent of the relations of the deceased, who in such a case are willing to show mercy, and take a fine instead of the person’s death; supposing it was through carelessness and negligence, and not with any ill design that he did not keep up his ox from doing damage, after he had notice:
then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatever, is laid upon him; whatever mulct or fine he is amerced with by the court, instead of the sentence of death first pronounced. Of this ransom Maimonides q thus writes:
“the ransom is according as the judges consider what is the price (or value) of him that is slain; (i.e. according to his rank, whether a noble or common man, a free man or a servant) all is according to the estimation of him that is slain.–To whom do they give the ransom? to the heirs of the slain; and if a woman is killed, the ransom is given to the heirs of her father’s (family), and not to her husband.”
q Hilchot Niske Mammon, c. 11. sect. 1, 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(30) Whatsoever is laid upon him.Primarily, by the aggrieved relatives; but in the case of an exorbitant demand there was, no doubt, an appeal to the judges, who would then fix the amount.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 21:30. If there be laid on him a sum of money A ransom was allowed in this case. As the law might sometimes prove too rigorous, the judges were to determine that ransom which was usually given to the heirs and relations of the person killed: thirty shekels of silver, Exo 21:32 which was somewhat more than three pounds, was the ransom to be paid for a slave; and this, be it observed, was the low price for which the traitor Judas sold his Blessed Master. Mat 26:15.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Exo 21:30 If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
Ver. 30. Sum of money. ] Taxed upon him by the next of kin, or, if he be unreasonable, by the judge. Exo 21:22
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
ransom. Implying that death-penalties were in certain cases commutable. Compare Exo 30:12 and Psa 49:8. Psa 49:32 shekels. See App-51.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
for the ransom: Exo 21:22, Exo 30:12, Num 35:31-33, Pro 13:8
Reciprocal: Exo 21:34 – General 1Ki 20:39 – or else
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 21:30. If there be laid on him a sum of money By the avenger of blood, the next akin to the party slain, who is willing to exchange the punishment, or by the judge.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21:30 If there be laid on him a {u} sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
(u) By the next of the kindred of him that is so slain.