Exodus 22:10-15 - If a man borrows anything

22:10-13

A similar situation is now described where it is an animal that the neighbour is given to look after, and the animal is injured, dies, or is lost. If there is a witness then it is clear what happened, namely if the neighbour was responsible for the loss. If there are no witnesses the neighbour is to make a solemn declaration before the Lord of his innocence, and the owner is to accept this. If the animal was stolen, then the neighbour is to make restitution. If the animal was killed by another animal, and the neighbour can produce the carcass, then nothing is to be paid.

22:14,15

We now have a simpler case. In the previous ones the owner has given his goods to the neighbour to look after, so he has some responsibility. Here we have someone borrowing from his neighbour. If the goods are damaged while in his possession, he is to make full restitution.This was not the case if the owner was there at the time, or if the goods were hired out. I.e the man had paid a fee to use the goods, so the owner was taking the risk.

We might wonder why we are getting all these details? Maybe it is a sign that worship of God is a whole life matter, we cannot compartmentalise religion.