Daily Devotions
My Song In The Night (Exodus)
我夜间的歌曲《出埃及记》
Text: Exodus 21: 22-27
MEDITATION
Exodus 21:22-27
22 “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
23 But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life,
24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
26 “If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for the sake of his eye.
27 And if he knocks out the tooth of his male or female servant, he shall let him go free for the sake of his tooth.
MEANINGFUL APPLICATION TO LIFE
1. In a fight
a. There may be bystanders.
b. A pregnant woman is injured somehow.
c. She gives birth prematurely due to trauma.
d. But no harm comes to the mother or the child.
e. The person who struck the woman will be punished.
f. Two possible penalties:
i. One imposed by the husband.
ii. One imposed by the Judges.
2. But if there is serious harm, the following would apply
a. A life for a life
b. An eye for an eye
c. A tooth for a tooth
d. A hand for a hand
e. A foot for a foot
f. A burn for a burn
g. A wound for a wound
h. A stripe for a stripe
3. This Law was not meant to be applied literally
a. It means there must be appropriate compensation.
b. The punishment must not be excessive.
c. But the punishment must be fair and equitable.
4. Injury to a slave by an owner
a. If he injures the eye of a male or female servant, he will have to release the servant as an appropriate punishment.
b. If he knocks out the tooth of a male or female servant, he will also have to set his slave free.
5. The Laws
a. They protect the poor and needy.
b. They will receive justice.
c. The rich and powerful are not above the law.
d. God’s laws when applied wisely would result in a fair and just society.
经文：出埃及记 21:22-27
沉思
《出埃及记 21:22-27》
22“人若彼此争斗，伤害有孕的妇人，甚至坠胎，随后却无别害，那伤害她的总要按妇人的丈夫所要的，照审判官所断的受罚。
23若有别害，就要以命偿命，
24以眼还眼，以牙还牙，以手还手，以脚还脚，
25以烙还烙，以伤还伤，以打还打。
26“人若打坏了他奴仆或是婢女的一只眼，就要因他的眼放他去得以自由。27若打掉了他奴仆或是婢女的一个牙，就要因他的牙放他去得以自由。