LIFE SCRIPTS

10 “If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, 11 the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath before the Lord that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required. 12 But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution must be made to the owner. 13 If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal. 14 “If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution. 15 But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss.
Exodus 22:10‭-‬15 NIV. https://bible.com/bible/111/exo.22.10-15.NIV.

Oaths had a big place among God’s people. When a person swore an oath in front of others on an issue, it showed that he is believable. Such is the case of a person who entrusts another with his animal for safe keeping. But this wasn’t the case if the animal had been stolen or torn into pieces by wild animals. In that case, the safekeeper was to repay the cost if he cannot bring evidence of the torn animal. Evidence plays a big role in any judicial system. It determines how cases are decided. In the absence of evidence, what remains is false accusations. Infact in some instances, false accusers could arrange for imposters to give a false testimony against an accused person. Such an instance happened during the time when Ahab’s men accused Naboth, in order to steal his vineyard. Another scenario is painted by this passage concerning a neighbour borrowing an animal which ends up dying in his custody. In this case, restitution is prescribed. However if the owner was present, them no payment is needed. Further, if money had been paid to hire the animal, no further payment would be required. These instructions ensured fairness in the way people conducted business deals. It eliminated possibility of exploitation. God set rules that protected both the consumer and the supplier. Rules that exist in many nations but are not necessarily followed. Instances of consumers being conned of their hard earned cash as well as sellers being tricked to release their goods without payment are rife. Protection laws though present aren’t implemented. But here, God’s word reminds us their importance especially in business transactions.