Exodus 22:2-3

[Rahab]

Exodus 22:2-3 
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.

 

 

 don’t understand these verses please explain 

[Asia Joe]

² “^[a]If the thief is ^[b]caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account. ³ But if the sun has risen on him, there will be bloodguiltiness on his account. He shall surely make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

Exodus 22:2-3  New American Standard Bible 1995

 

² “If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; ³ but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.

“Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, but if they have nothing, they must be sold to pay for their theft.

Exodus 22:2-3  New International Version

So if I catch a thief breaking in, at night,  and I hit him hard enough to kill him, I am not guilty of murder. 

However, if it is daylight and I hit him hard enough to kill him, then it is murder. 

Why? 

Because nighttime thieves carry weapons and are very dangerous. There are many reports here in the Philippines where a nighttime thief has killed someone who discovered them in the house. Many.  They are desperate not to be caught. 

 

But the thieves in the daylight are normally opportunists, young people or small time thieves. 

You probably do not have much experience with thieves. But they are common here and South America. In the medium size city and up, people have bars on their windows, dogs and strong doors. 

I have plenty of experience with thieves.  

It is not uncommon for a thief who is caught here, or South America, to be beaten to death. 

And no one goes to jail for it.