Theft of Livestock in the Covenant Code: A New Synchronic Approach

Abstract Scholarly discourse, including rabbinic commentary, has frequently argued that the laws concerning livestock theft in the Covenant Code (Exod 21:37–22:3) are arranged in an illogical sequence. Additionally, many scholars contend that these laws encompass regulations on disparate topics such as home burglary, self-defense, and possession of stolen property, some of which were interpolated into the text at a later date. In this study, I aim to demonstrate that a proper interpretation and reading of the passage reveal a coherent and logical organization of the subjects addressed, all related to the theft of domestic livestock and centered on a single entity: the thief.