The KJV Holy Bible

 

Exodus Chapter Twenty Two

 

1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.

3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

4 If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.

5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.

6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

7 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.

8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods.

9 For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.

10 If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:

11 Then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.

12 And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.

13 If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.

14 And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.

15 But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.

16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.

17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

19 Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.

20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;

24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

25 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

26 If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:

27 For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.

28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

29 Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.

30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

31 And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.

 

 

Esoteric Interpretation & Commentary

 

The Hermetic Blueprint of Exodus: The Conservation of Energy and the Eradication of Psychic Manipulation

"Exodus Chapter Twenty-Two deepens the Alchemical Algorithms of Karma, Focusing Entirely on the Conservation, Protection, and Restitution of Vital Spiritual Energy—symbolized by earthly property, livestock, and harvests. The Newly Awakened Adept is taught how to Govern the Internal Economy of the Mind. This chapter reveals the Severe Energetic Consequences of allowing Uncontrolled Passions to burn up the Spiritual Harvest, the Psychological mechanics of Unconscious Thought-Theft, and the Absolute, Uncompromising prohibition against using Occult Forces for selfish manipulation. The Inner Sanctuary must remain an environment of Perfect, Incorruptible Equilibrium."

 

 

Verses 1-4: The Theft of Vitality and the Multiplier of Karma - "If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep... If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double." 

In the Esoteric economy of the Soul, the "ox" Represents the Heavy, Active, Generative Power of Spiritual Labor, while the "sheep" Represents Pure, Gentle Devotion and Innocent Spiritual Focus. If a lower, rogue aspect of the ego (the thief) "steals" this Vital Energy—diverting the Adept's Focus toward base, earthly anxieties or selfish desires—a massive Karmic debt is incurred. Karma does not merely demand equal return for the destruction of High Spiritual Energy; it demands a Fourfold or Fivefold restitution. The Psyche is Forced into grueling Alchemical labor to rebuild the Internal momentum that was carelessly squandered by the lower Mind.

 

 

Verses 2-3: The Thief in the Night and Conscious Awareness - "If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft." 

The "thief" Represents an Invasive, Destructive Thought pattern or a parasitic Emotional State. The "night" symbolizes the Unconscious Mind or a State of low Awareness. If the Adept automatically swats down a negative Thought while in the dark (an Unconscious, defensive reflex), there is no Karmic penalty ("no blood shed"). However, if the "sun be risen"—meaning the Light of Conscious, Waking Awareness is Shining—and the Adept Consciously engages, wrestles with, or entertains the destructive Thought, they incur a Karmic debt. The Awakened Will must hold itself Absolutely accountable for what it allows to operate in the Light of Consciousness.

 

 

Verse 6: The Uncontrolled Fire and the Lost Harvest - "If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution." 

Fire represents the Volatile, Active Energies of the lower astral body—anger, lust, unchecked ambition, or violent passion. "Thorns" are the petty, earthly irritations and anxieties of daily Life. When the Adept recklessly allows their Internal Fire to ignite over petty earthly irritations (catching in thorns), the resulting Psychological Blaze quickly spreads and destroys the "stacked corn"—the carefully gathered and stored Spiritual nourishment (Manna/Truth) achieved through meditation. The Conscious Mind that allowed its temper or passion to flare is held strictly responsible for the complete Alchemical loss of its Own Spiritual Progress.

 

 

Verse 18: The Eradication of Black Magic - "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." 

This is one of the Most Misunderstood and Violently misapplied verses in literal history. Esoterically, a "witch" or sorcerer does not refer to a human being, but to the practice of Black Magic within the Psyche. Black Magic is the deliberate manipulation of astral, Psychological, or Spiritual Forces for selfish, egoic, or controlling earthly gain. It is the inversion of the Great Work. The Spiritual Will is commanded to ruthlessly and permanently eradicate any desire within the self to Psychically manipulate others, use Spiritual Knowledge for material power, or bend Universal Law to serve the lower ego. Such manipulative frequencies must be given no life within the human Temple.

 

 

Verses 21-24: The Protection of the Fragile Faculties - "Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot..." 

The stranger, the widow, and the fatherless child represent the most delicate, newly birthed, or isolated Spiritual Faculties within the Mind. They are the quiet Intuitions, the gentle Virtues, and the newly formed Concepts of Divine Love that do not yet have a strong "father" (Structured Intellect) or "husband" (Active Force) to defend them. The harsh, dominant, rationalizing ego is strictly forbidden from oppressing or ignoring these fragile states of grace. If the heavy Intellect crushes the gentle Intuition, the Universal Spirit (the Absolute Divine Law) will intervene with blinding, destructive Force against the ego to protect the Soul's delicate Spiritual Development.