Annotations.
THy brothers oxen] yea though it be thine one∣mies, [unspec 1] Exod. 23. 4. goe astray] Hebr. driven away, or thrust out of the way, by any meanes of themselves, or others: as by a dog, hunted from the flocke or fold, and the like. The Greeke and Chaldee translate, erring in way, and going a∣stray. See the notes on Deut. 4. 19. This dutie required towards beasts, is much more towards men; as God applieth the similitude in Ezek. 34. 4. 16. And as we all were like sheepe going astray, 1 Pet. 2. 25. so are we daily subject to stray from the truth, and have need one of anothers helpe; whereupon it is said, Brethren, if any of you doe erre (or goe astray) from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the errour of his way, shall save a soule from death, and shall hide a multitude of sinnes, Iam. 5. 19, 20. hide thy selfe] that is, with-hold thine helpe: the Greeke translateth it, winke at, that is, neglect, or not regard: See Lev. 20. 4. resto∣ring, &c.] that is, thou shalt in any case restore, or bring againe. So here are two precepts; a prohi∣bition to hide, and a commandement to restore: and thus the Hebrewes observe a double sinne in them that breake this Law, and sometimes a tre∣ble. He that seeth a lost thing of any Israelites, and hideth himselfe from it, and letteth it alone, trans∣gresseth this prohibition, THOV SHALT NOT HIDE THY SELFE FROM THEM; and breaketh this commandement, THOV SHALT RESTORE, &c. If hee take the lost thing, and restore it not, hee breaketh the com∣mandement (THOV SHALT RESTORE) and transgresseth against two prohibitions, against THOV MAIST NOT HIDE THY SELFE, (Deut. 22. 3.) and against THOV SHALT NOT ROB, (Lev. 19. 13.) Al∣though the owner of the lost thing be a wicked man, &c. wee are commanded to restore his lost thing to him. If hee have restored it, and it be fled away a∣gaine, though an hundred times, he is bound to restore it; for it is written, RESTORING THOV SHALT RESTORE THEM. Maim. in Misneh, tom. 4. treat of Robbery and losse, ch. 11. s. 1, 2, 14. unto thy brother] either to his own hands, or to the place where it was and should be. For, if he see a beast that is fled out of the fold, and he returneth it into the place thereof, loe he hath kept this commandement, and there is no need to make it knowne unto the owner, saith Maimony ibidem, chap. 11. sect. 16.
Vers. 2. gather it] that is, take it in. into thine [unspec 2] house] Hebr. into the midst of thine house; whereby is meant within the same, as the phrase often sig∣nifieth: See the notes on Genes. 2. 9. But this teacheth a care to keepe it safe. seeke after it] But he that found it, is also to use meanes that the owner may know of it; and the Hebrewes say, He is bound to cry it, and make it knowne, saying, who so hath lost such a kinde of thing, let him come and give the signes of it, and he shall have it. At the first, who so hath found any thing, crieth it three times. After the last time, within seven daies he crieth it the fourth time. If the owner come not, the thing found is to be left with him that found it; and if in all that time it be stollen, or lost, he is bound to make satisfa∣ction; but if it be gone by violence, he is free. For he that keepeth a lost thing, is as he that keepes for hire, &c. [whereof Iee the Annotations on Exod. 22. 10.] And he must have care that the thing be not marred, or perish. If it be a living thing which he must give food unto; if it be a working (beast) as an horse, asse, &c. he may put them to labour twelve moneths from the day that he found them, or let them out for hire, and take their hire, and give them food;