We are in chapter twenty-three of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. שֹׁ֫חַד gift, bribe, present. It is used 23 times in the Old Testament. We find our word used in regard to God himself as our example. Deuteronomy 10:17-18 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no שֹֽׁחַד bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. Notice that God himself is the one who defends those who are vulnerable and he cannot be bribed so the vulnerable will be defended ultimately. God set up the very legal system in Israel to make sure everyone received justice as we see in our next usage. 2 Chronicles 19:5-7 He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or שֹֽׁחַד bribery.” Because God is all about justice and righteousness for everyone regardless of their socio-economic status or their nationality he explains why he condemns this practice. Deuteronomy 16:19 Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a שֹׁ֔חַד bribe, for a הַשֹּׁ֗חַד bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. 1 Samuel 8:3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted שֹׁ֔חַד bribes and perverted justice. Proverbs 17:23 The wicked accept שֹׁ֣חַד bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice. Isaiah 5:23 Who acquit the guilty for a שֹׁ֑חַד bribe, but deny justice to the innocent. This idea of perverting justice is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 23:8 And you shall take no וְשֹׁ֖חַד bribe, for a הַשֹּׁ֙חַד֙ bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right. God warns of the punishment for those who practice this subversion of justice. Deuteronomy 27:25 Cursed is anyone who accepts a שֹׁ֔חַד bribe to kill an innocent person. Job 15:34 For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of those who love שֹֽׁחַד bribes. One of the ways godly people are identified is by those who do not take bribes. I’ll close with this short Psalm. Psalm 15:1-5 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a וְשֹׁ֥חַד bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.
