You
shall not watch your neighbor’s ox or sheep straying away and
ignore them; you shall take them back to their owner.1
If the owner does not reside near you or you do not know who the
owner is, you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain
with you until the owner claims it; then you shall return it.2
You shall do the same with a neighbor’s donkey; you shall do the
same with a neighbor’s garment; and you shall do the same with
anything else that your neighbor loses and you find.3
You may not withhold your help. You shall not see your neighbor’s
donkey or ox fallen on the road and ignore it; you shall help to lift
it up.4
1 We are our neighbor's keeper.
1 We are our neighbor's keeper.
2
This is making quite a significant action in order to help out even
an unknown neighbor. It may also ward against livestock-stealing
and the excuses that could accompany that.
3
Quite strong and quite caring!
4
Compassion to the neighbor, hint of compassion to the animal too.
Take-home: Love of neighbor is to be concretely manifested in care for the neighbor's things, even when the neighbor is away, even when you do not know the neighbor in question.
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