Keluaran 20:15

20:15 “You shall not steal. ¹ 

Keluaran 23:4

23:4 “If you encounter ²  your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, you must by all means return ³  it to him.

Lukas 3:14

3:14 Then some soldiers ⁴  also asked him, “And as for us – what should we do?” ⁵  He told them, “Take money from no one by violence ⁶  or by false accusation, ⁷  and be content with your pay.”

[20:15]  ¹ sn This law protected the property of the Israelite citizen. See D. Little, “Exodus 20,15: ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’,” Int 34 (1980): 399-405.

[23:4]  ² tn Heb “meet” (so KJV, ASV, NASB).

[23:4]  ³ tn The construction uses the imperfect tense (taken here as an obligatory imperfect) and the infinitive absolute for emphasis.

[3:14]  ⁴ tn Grk “And soldiers.”

[3:14]  ⁵ tn Grk “And what should we ourselves do?”

[3:14]  ⁶ tn Or “Rob no one.” The term διασείσητε (diaseishte) here refers to “shaking someone.” In this context it refers to taking financial advantage of someone through violence, so it refers essentially to robbery. Soldiers are to perform their tasks faithfully. A changed person is to carry out his tasks in life faithfully and without grumbling.

[3:14]  ⁷ tn The term translated “accusation” (συκοφαντήσητε, sukofanthshte) refers to a procedure by which someone could bring charges against an individual and be paid a part of the fine imposed by the court. Soldiers could do this to supplement their pay, and would thus be tempted to make false accusations.