Laws that Apply to Everyone (Exodus 23:1-9)

23 “You shall not spread a false report [which could cause people to think differently about others, making them prejudiced]. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. [The law required two witnesses for many crimes and collusion undermines this principal.] 2 You shall not fall in with the many [the majority] to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, 3 nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit. [Peer pressure and poor partiality are particularly discouraged. The law is to be neutral.]

4 “If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. 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. [Both of these describe situations involving the temptation not to act because to do would benefit one’s enemy.]

6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor [those without position and privilege in society] in his lawsuit. 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. [What one appears to get away with by undermining or perverting righteousness will ultimately not get away with it.] 8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right. [God warns his people about the temptation and dangers of financial reward. Think of Volkswagen today.]

9 “You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. [There is an expectation of natural sympathy for aliens because of Israelite history.]