Exodus 21:28, commentary and pictures

If an ox not previously known to be dangerous gores a man or a woman so that death follows, the case is distinguished from that of a known dangerous animal. The ox that kills in this way must surely be stoned, its flesh must not be eaten, and its owner is quit and free of liability. If instead the owner knew that the ox pushed with its horn or was vicious and failed to restrain it, yet let it go free, the owner is accountable when it kills. Then the beast must die and the negligent owner may answer with his own life or pay a ransom.

The command belongs to God's laws, statutes and judgments given through Moses to Israel. They are to be studied and strictly obeyed as instruction guarding against injustice and guiding dealings with one another. They express God's impartial care and the high standard of His requirements. The strict accountability exists because human life is precious before God, bought by Christ at an infinite price with His own life so that every person might have life that measures with the life of God and is not to be thrown away.

The law regulates harm caused by a dangerous product, and its principle applies to those who produce or knowingly sell intoxicating drink. They share and bear responsibility for the violence, harm and crimes others commit under its influence. A liquor seller who knows the effects of what he sells and knowingly exposes others to the danger is responsible before God for violence committed under its influence, as responsible for a resulting murder as the person who commits it. Governments that knowingly permit and license liquor sellers are responsible for the harm caused by a traffic they sanction, and sanctioning that traffic is a graver crime than allowing a known vicious beast its freedom. Lawyers, senators, judges, and all who vote to license liquor to be sold are guilty with the seller for all the consequences growing from disposing liquor and for what men do under liquor, and will have to give an account to God for it in the judgment.

Together with the following verses it fixes the price of a slave at thirty pieces of silver, about £3 10s. Selling Jesus for thirty pieces put Him at the value of a slave. That price showed fostered avarice had become the ruling motive until betraying Him with a kiss in Gethsemane.