Because the society was agricultural, the cases regarding theft and property damage have primarily to do with animals and land produce (22:1–15). While theft in general means a twofold restitution, the relative value and necessity of certain animals means that the payback when they are stolen is significantly more: five head of cattle for an ox and four sheep for one sheep. Oxen were wo…
Baker Publishing Group, The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary, by Gary M. Burge