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
This law was given to the Israelites during their wilderness journey after leaving Egypt, as part of a comprehensive legal code for their new society. In an agricultural economy where crops were essential for survival, accidental fires could devastate families and communities. These laws ensured that even unintentional negligence had consequences and that victims would be compensated for their losses.
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