Bring Back My Donkey

Torah scroll

When you come upon your enemy's (Hb. ayav) ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back. Ex 23.4

Bummer. I really wanted to keep it. Oxen and donkeys were extremely valuable in the Ancient Near East. 

One could use them for transportation, to plow, haul goods, and at least with the oxen, for hides and food. In this way, they would have a value similar to a car or truck today.

The laws of the Hebrew Scriptures sometimes seem very strange to us, but it is important to keep in mind that these laws helped an ancient, extremely superstitious people, grow confident in what they did and didn't need to do, to please their God. 

The laws made them less vulnerable to marginalization by the elites, who commonly used laws sent down from the gods to extort people. The laws also showed that Yahweh was concerned about even the most intricate details of daily living.

But how does a verse like this relate to us? The letter of law is tough to apply, as most of us don't daily encounter stray donkeys, but the spirit behind it is certainly transferable:

How many of us go out of our way to help people with whom we are at odds? How many of us, if we see misfortune befalling people we don't like, spend time justifying why we shouldn't help, instead of actually helping?

Take a read through the laws of Torah sometime, attempting to first see how they applied to the ancient Israelites, and then ask how they might apply to you today.