If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
If a fire breaks out and spreads through thornbushes, destroying stacks of grain, standing crops, or an entire field, the person who started the fire must pay for all the damage.
This verse establishes that if someone accidentally starts a fire that damages another person's crops or property, they are responsible for making things right by paying for the losses.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of Moses, the Israelites were receiving the Law on Mount Sinai as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land, where agriculture formed the backbone of their economy and daily life. This specific verse addresses the dangers of fire in a society reliant on crops and fields, emphasizing the need for restitution to maintain justice and prevent disputes among neighbors. It is part of the broader covenant laws in Exodus that outlined practical rules for a nomadic and then settled community to live in harmony under God's guidance.
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