Among the Hebrews theft was not punished with death: “Men do not
despise a thief if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry. But
if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the
substance of his house,” Prov. vi, 30, 31. The law allowed the killing
of a night-robber, because it was supposed his intention was to murder
as well as to rob, Exod. xxii, 2. It condemned a common thief to make
double restitution, Exod. xxii, 4. If he stole an ox he was to restore
it fivefold; if a sheep, only fourfold, Exod. xxii, 1; 2 Sam. xii, 6.
But if the animal that was stolen was found alive in his house he only
rendered the double of it. If he did not make restitution, they seized
what was in his house, put it up to sale, and even sold the person
himself if he had not wherewithal to make satisfaction, Exod. xxii, 3.
despise a thief if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry. But
if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the
substance of his house,” Prov. vi, 30, 31. The law allowed the killing
of a night-robber, because it was supposed his intention was to murder
as well as to rob, Exod. xxii, 2. It condemned a common thief to make
double restitution, Exod. xxii, 4. If he stole an ox he was to restore
it fivefold; if a sheep, only fourfold, Exod. xxii, 1; 2 Sam. xii, 6.
But if the animal that was stolen was found alive in his house he only
rendered the double of it. If he did not make restitution, they seized
what was in his house, put it up to sale, and even sold the person
himself if he had not wherewithal to make satisfaction, Exod. xxii, 3.