John Gill Commentary Exodus 23:5

"If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, thou shalt forbear to leave him, thou shalt surely release [it] with him." — Exodus 23:5 (ASV)

If you see the ass of him that hates you lying under his
burden
Fallen down, and such a burden upon him that he cannot rise up again, but lies under it, and the owner of it is not able of himself to raise it up again:

and would forbear to help him ;
show an inclination to pass on without giving him any assistance to get up his beast again; or "would you forbear to help him?" ^F23 as Jarchi, and others, read with an interrogation, could it be in your heart to forbear helping him? could you go on, and take no notice of him and his case, and not join him in endeavouring to get up his beast again, that he may proceed its his journey? can you be so cruel and hardhearted, though he is your enemy? but if you are, know this,

you shall surely help with him ;
to get up his ass again: hence the Jewish canon runs thus ^F24 ,``if an ass is unloaded and loaded four or five times, a man is bound, i.e. to help, as it is said, "in helping you shall help"; if he (the owner) goes away, and sets himself down, seeing the command is upon you, if it is your will and pleasure to unload, unload, he is free; for it is said, with him; if he is an old man, or sick, he is bound, the command of the law is to unload, but not to load.''

The words may be rendered, "in leaving you shall leave with him" ^F25 ; either leave or forsake your enmity to help him, as Onkelos; or leave your business, you are about, to lend him an hand to raise up his beast again.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F23: (bzem tldxw) "num desines sublevare eum?" some in Vatablus; "cessabis auxitiari ei?" Drusius; "desines auxiliari ei?" Pagninus.
• F24: Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 2. sect. 10.
• F25: "Deserendo deseres cum eo", Montanus; so Ainsworth.