Exodus 23:5
If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse goes beyond simply telling us to help an enemy; it highlights the surprising command to "refrain from leaving him with it." This phrasing emphasizes not just active help, but the deliberate choice to not abandon the struggling animal and its owner in their distress, even when it's tempting to ignore them.
This verse emerges within a section of laws detailing how the Israelites are to conduct themselves justly and compassionately, even toward enemies. It follows commands against spreading false rumors and bearing false witness, and directly precedes further instructions on fairness in legal matters and proper treatment of the poor. The overarching theme is the practice of righteousness and mercy, demonstrating that these principles extend even to those who may have wronged them or hold animosity.
Imagine seeing your fiercest enemy struggling. What's your first instinct? This ancient law challenges us to look beyond our grudges.
This command in Exodus 23:5 isn't just about animals; it's a profound call to extend compassion, even to those who hate us.
Beyond Personal Animosity
The verse is clear: if you see your enemy's donkey struggling under its load, you don't just walk away. You must help. This wasn't a suggestion; it was a commandment.
The Radical Nature of Love
This law pushes us to a radical, almost counter-intuitive idea: that our obligation to love and show mercy can extend even to those who actively dislike or oppose us. It’s about recognizing a shared humanity and the inherent value of every creature, even when it’s inconvenient or goes against our feelings.
Why would God command help for an enemy's struggling animal? It reveals something deeper about His heart and His expectations for us.
This isn't just a quirky law about donkeys; it’s a powerful lesson in recognizing shared humanity and breaking down barriers.
A Shared Vulnerability
When an animal collapses under its burden, it's a moment of shared vulnerability. The animal suffers, and the owner, even if they are an enemy, is distressed and inconvenienced. The law points out that in such moments, the 'enemy' status can be set aside.
Undoing Enmity Through Action
The act of helping to lift the burden, as one commentary suggests, could bring the enemies into direct, cooperative contact. This shared effort, even in a small way, has the potential to soften hearts and create a moment of understanding, chipping away at the walls of hatred. It's about recognizing that even our enemies have burdens, and sometimes, helping them bear those burdens can lead to reconciliation or at least de-escalation.
Understand the original words
sane · Hebrew Verb/Participle
An individual who harbors deep-seated aversion or ill-will. The text mandates providing practical help to such a person, demonstrating that love and moral obligation supersede personal feelings of conflict.
This passage shares the same practical instruction to help an enemy's animal, reinforcing the Old Testament's emphasis on kindness even towards those with whom one has conflict.
Proverbs 25:21-22These verses directly quote and expand upon the principle of showing kindness to an enemy, providing the theological rationale ('for you will heap burning coals on his head') for the action commanded in Exodus.
Matthew 5:44Jesus elevates this principle by commanding followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, showing how the Old Testament law points towards a deeper, more radical ethic of compassion.
Luke 10:30-37The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates the spirit behind this commandment by showing active compassion to a stranger in need, even when religious or social barriers might discourage it.
pulpitExodus 23:5: "If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him."
Verse 5. - If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee, etc. The general meaning of the passage is clear - assistance is to be given to the fallen ass of an enemy - but the exact sense of both the second and third clauses is doubtful. Many renderings have been suggested; but it is not clear that any one of them is an improvement on the Authorised…
gillExodus 23:5: "If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him."
If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden,.... Fallen down, and such a burden upon him that he cannot rise up again, but lies under it, and the owner of it is not able of himself to raise it up again: and wouldst forbear to help him; show an inclination to pass on without giving him any assistance to get up his beast again…
This verse goes beyond simply telling us to help an enemy; it highlights the surprising command to "refrain from leaving him with it." This phrasing emphasizes not just active help, but the deliberate choice to not abandon the struggling animal and its owner in their distress, even when it's tempting to ignore them.
This verse emerges within a section of laws detailing how the Israelites are to conduct themselves justly and compassionately, even toward enemies. It follows commands against spreading false rumors and bearing false witness, and directly precedes further instructions on fairness in legal matters and proper treatment of the poor. The overarching theme is the practice of righteousness and mercy, demonstrating that these principles extend even to those who may have wronged them or hold animosity.
This verse emerges within a section of laws detailing how the Israelites are to conduct themselves justly and compassionately, even toward enemies. It follows commands against spreading false rumors and bearing false witness, and directly precedes further instructions on fairness in legal matters and proper treatment of the poor. The overarching theme is the practice of righteousness and mercy, demonstrating that these principles extend even to those who may have wronged them or hold animosity.
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"If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him." — This verse goes beyond simply telling us to help an enemy; it highlights the surprising command to "refrain from leaving him with it." This phrasing emphasizes not just active help, but the deliberat…
