Exo 23:4-5 | NETfull | STEP | “If you encounter your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, you must by all means return it to him.

Exodus 23:4-5

4 “If you encounter ^{▼▼ Heb “meet” (so KJV, ASV, NASB).} your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, you must by all means return ^{▼▼ The construction uses the imperfect tense (taken here as an obligatory imperfect) and the infinitive absolute for emphasis.} it to him. 5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen under its load, you must not ignore him, ^{▼▼ The line reads “you will cease to forsake him” – refrain from leaving your enemy without help.} but be sure to help ^{▼▼ The law is emphatic here as well, using the infinitive absolute and the imperfect of instruction (or possibly obligation). There is also a wordplay here: two words עָזַב (’azav) are used, one meaning “forsake” and the other possibly meaning “arrange” based on Arabic and Ugaritic evidence (see U. Cassuto, Exodus, 297–98).} him with it. ^{▼▼ See H. B. Huffmon, “Exodus 23:4–5: A Comparative Study,” A Light Unto My Path, 271–78.}