If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence; no restitution needs to be made for the torn animal. The remains as evidence is a specific legal provision: producing the carcass demonstrates that the animal died from a predator, not from negligence or theft. The evidence requirement protects the custodian who is genuinely innocent while preventing false claims. Genesis 31:39 records Jacob telling Laban: I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night — Jacob's complaint is the inverse of Exodus 22:13: he absorbed losses that the law says should have been attributed to the unavoidable hazard. The law of Exodus 22:13 corrects what Laban demanded.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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