Exodus 23:4

“If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, etc.] Or any other beast, as the Samaritan version adds; for these are only mentioned for instances, as being more common, and creatures subject to go astray; now when such as these are met going astray, so as to be in danger of being lost to the owner, though he is an enemy; or as the Targum of Jonathan, “whom thou hatest because of a sin, which thou alone knowest in him;” yet this was not so far to prejudice the finder of his beasts against him, as to be careless about them, to suffer them to go on without acquainting him with them, or returning them to him, as follows: thou shalt surely bring it back to him again; whether it be an ox,…”

“So far was the spirit of the law from encouraging personal revenge that it would not allow a man to neglect an opportunity of saving his enemy from loss. Exodus 23:5 The sense appears to be: “If thou see the ass of thine enemy lying down under his burden, thou shalt forbear to pass by him; thou shalt help him in loosening the girths of the ass.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“Deu 22:1-4; Job 31:29, Job 31:30; Pro 24:17, Pro 24:18, Pro 25:21; Mat 5:44; Luk 6:27, Luk 6:28; Rom 12:17-21; Th1 5:15 Exodus 23:5”