If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten ... At certain seasons cattle were placed to graze in fields and even vineyards, where they were tied to some vigorous vine-shoot, in order that they might feed on the herbage or leaves around (cf. Genesis 49:11). But if their owner should be convicted of putting them surreptitiously from greediness, or allowing them through carelessness, to stray into the adjoining field of another man, he was to give restitution of the estimated damage from the best portion of his own field or vineyard. [The Septuagint has apotisei ek tou agrou autou kata to genneema autou-he shall give compensation according to his brood of cattle, and then subjoins this amplifying clause, ean de panta ton agron kataboskeesee, and if they shall consume the whole field, shall give of the best of his own, etc.]