IV. Personal Rights and Remedies

“Personal injuries, economic losses, and matters of inheritance are among the many matters of personal right and responsibilities included in this section of various civil laws.  These civil laws are designed to regulate daily activities in a fair manner for each citizen and to instill a sense of order throughout society.”

A. Restitution for Loss

WRONGFUL TAKING   Numbers 5:5-10

DISPUTED LOST PROPERTY   Exodus 22:9

BAILEE OF MONEY OR GOODS   Exodus 22:7,8

BORROWER’S RESPONSIBILITY   Exodus 22:14,15

B. Seduction

“In addition to the impropriety involved, there is an economic aspect to cases of seduction.”

COMPENSATION FOR VIRGIN   Exodus 22:16,17

C. Injuries and Damages

OPEN PITS   Exodus 21:33,34

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE   Exodus 22:6

CROP DAMAGE BY ANIMALS   Exodus 22:5

OX GORING PERSONS   Exodus 21:28

KNOWN DANGEROUS PROPENSITIES   Exodus 21:29-32

OX GORING ANIMALS   Exodus 21:35,36

KILLING ANIMAL   Leviticus 24:18, 24:21a

PREVENTION OF INJURY   Deuteronomy 22:8

D. Masters and Servants

PROMPT PAYMENT   Leviticus 19:13/Deuteronomy 24:14,15

ACQUIRING SLAVES   Leviticus 25:44-46

ESCAPED SLAVES   Deuteronomy 23:15,16

SEVEN-YEAR RELEASE   Deuteronomy 15:12-18

RELEASE WITH FAMILY   Exodus 21:1-6

RELEASE OF WOMEN SLAVES   Exodus 21:7-11

(RELEASE AFTER MAIMING)   Exodus 21:26,27

E. Credit, Interest, and Collateral

CHARGING INTEREST   Deuteronomy 23:19,20

POOR PROTECTED   Exodus 22:25-27/Deuteronomy 24:12,13

NO MILL FOR PLEDGE   Deuteronomy 24:6

RETRIEVAL OF PLEDGE   Deuteronomy 24:10,11

(PLEDGE FROM WIDOW)   (Deuteronomy 24:17)

SEVEN-YEAR PLEDGE   Deuteronomy 15:1-5

LENDING TO OTHER NATIONS   Deuteronomy 15:6

OBLIGATION TO POOR   Deuteronomy 15:7-11

F. Contracts and Agreements

OATHS TO BE KEPT   Leviticus 19:12

AGREEMENTS TO BE HONORED   Numbers 30:1,2

VOW OF DAUGHTER   Numbers 30:3-5

VOW OF WHITE   Numbers 30:6-8

VOW OF WIDOW OR DIVORCEE   Numbers 30:9-12

HUSBAND’S LIABILITY   Numbers 30:13-16

G. Weights and Measures

DEALINGS TO BE HONEST   Leviticus 19:11

PROPER MEASUREMENTS   Leviticus 19:35-37

PROPER WEIGHTS   Deuteronomy 25:13-16

H. Inheritance
1. Right of Firstborn

DOUBLE PORTION DUE   Deuteronomy 21:15-17

2. Levirate Marriage

“When a man dies childless, his brother is to take the widow as a wife and to father a child in his brother’s name.  That first child will receive the deceased brother’s inheritance, while any other children of the union will inherit through their natural father.”

BROTHER’S OBLIGATION   Deuteronomy 25:5,6

IF BROTHER REFUSES   Deuteronomy 25:7-10

E. Case of Zelophehad’s Daughters

“Moses is approached by the daughters of a man who had died without any sons to inherit a portion of the promised land.  Concerned about loss of family possessions, the daughters ask that land be assigned to the family through them.  Moses agrees, but limits their marriages to men within the same tribe so that their inheritance will not be transferred to another tribe.  The case does indicate something of the status of women in a predominantly male-oriented society.”

DAUGHTERS SEEK INHERITANCE   Numbers 27:1-4

ORDER OF INHERITANCE   Numbers 27:5-11

PROBLEM IF DAUGHTERS MARRY   Numbers 36:1-4

MUST MARRY WITHIN TRIBE   Numbers 36:5-9

DAUGHTERS COMPLY   Numbers 36:10-13

All quotations taken from The Daily Bible.