Matthew Poole and continuators on Exodus 22:14

14 And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good .

(i. e.) Any living thing, which may be hurt or die, as it follows.

This may seem hard, but all things considered, is reasonable; because in doubtful cases, wherein it is not evident whether the borrower was faulty or not, as it is here, it ought to be interpreted in favour of the lender, rather than of the borrower, partly to oblige the borrower to the greater fidelity and care in such things, which being not his own men are commonly more careless about; partly because the benefit being wholly the borrowers, the loss also in all reason ought to be his, and the lender ought not to suffe[illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1 word] kindness, lest he should be discouraged from such [illegible: 1 word] the future.