An Ox That Gores

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If an ox kills a man or woman, it must be stoned and its meat must not be eaten. The owner is not held responsible if the animal had no known habit of goring. But if the owner was warned about its dangerous behavior and failed to restrain it, the law treats the resulting death very differently.

In that case the owner faces death, though a payment may be required to redeem his life instead. The same rule applies when a son or daughter is killed. The law also names a separate payment when a servant is killed. These are severe cases in Israel's civil life, where an owner's failure can cost someone else a life.

An uncovered pit creates another responsibility. If an ox or donkey falls in and dies, the person who left the pit open must compensate the animal's owner. The loss cannot simply be left with the neighbor whose animal was harmed.

When one ox kills another, the owners normally divide the value of the live ox and the dead animal. But if the attacking ox was known to gore and had not been restrained, its owner owes full compensation. An ignored warning changes the judgment.

The Lord's law reaches ordinary possessions and the risks they create. Caring for what is ours includes protecting the people and property around it. Once danger is known, convenience is no answer to the duty of restraint.