Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 22:8
If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, [to see] whether he have put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods.
8. unto God ] i.e. to the local sanctuary. On the term ‘God,’ here and v. 9, and the paraphrase ‘the judges’ (marg.), see on Exo 21:6 and Exo 18:15. To judge by the analogy of v. 11, a denial on oath was sufficient for an acquittal. Comp. 1Ki 8:31-32.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
It would appear that if the master of the house would clear himself of imputation, the loss of the pledged article fell upon its owner.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. Unto the judges] See Clarke on Ex 21:6.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That they may examine all circumstances, and use all means to find out the truth, by offering him his oath, or otherwise.
Unto his neighbours goods; either to take and reserve them for his own use, or to dispose of them to another for his own advantage.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
If the thief be not found,…. And so no account can be given of the goods deposited, what is become of them, and it becomes a doubtful case whether they have been stolen or embezzled, and there is suspicion of the latter:
then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges: here called Elohim, gods, because they were God’s vicegerents, and represented him, and acted under his power and authority; and who at this present were Moses, and those that judged the people under him, and afterwards the seventy elders, and all such who in succeeding times were judges in Israel, and bore the office of civil magistrates; before these the master of the house, or the person who had any goods committed to his care, and they were lost, was to be brought and put to his oath, and upon it examined, in order to find out what was become of the goods committed to him: to see whether he has put his hand to his neighbour’s goods: took them to himself, made use of them, or disposed of them to his own advantage, and which was no other than a kind of theft.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(8) To see whether he have put his hand.Kalisch translates, to swear that he has not put his hand, and so the LXX. ( ) and Vulg. (et jurabit quod non extenderit manum).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods The magistrates would carefully examine if there were any evidence of fraudulent appropriation of the goods, and if none were found, such an oath as is mentioned in Exo 22:11 would be taken as a release for the suspected party . The loss in that case would fall upon the owner .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 22:8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, [to see] whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods.
Ver. 8. To see whether, ] sc., By putting him to his oath. Exo 22:11 Some think that a private oath may be in such a case as this lawfully taken for the satisfaction of another, if he will not otherwise be satisfied.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the judges: Exo 22:28, *marg. Exo 21:6, Deu 16:18, Deu 19:17, Deu 19:18, 1Ch 23:4, Psa 82:1
Reciprocal: Exo 22:11 – that he hath not 1Ki 8:31 – an oath be laid upon him
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
22:8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, [to see] whether he have {d} put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods.
(d) That is, whether he has stolen.