If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:
If someone gives their neighbor a donkey, ox, sheep, or any animal to take care of, and the animal dies, gets injured, or is stolen while no one is watching:
This verse begins a law about what happens when someone is caring for another person's animals and something goes wrong without any witnesses present.
📚 Historical Context
This law was given to the Israelites as they formed their new society in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. In an agricultural society where livestock was extremely valuable and represented much of a person's wealth, clear rules were needed for situations where neighbors helped each other care for animals. These laws helped prevent disputes and maintained trust in the community.
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