Trustee

The umbrella collects the legal and parabolic registers of the trustee — one to whom another's goods, money, or stewardship is entrusted, and from whom an account is required.

The Mosaic Law of Deposit

Exodus 22 sets out the working law of bailment. A man entrusts silver, goods, or livestock to a fellow man for keeping, and the law fixes the consequences for theft, loss, or damage. For silver or movable goods, the rule begins: "If a man will deliver to his fellow man silver or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man's house; if the thief is found, he will pay double" (Ex 22:7). When no thief is found, the case is brought before the judges to test whether the trustee himself converted the goods (Ex 22:8-9). For livestock — donkey, ox, sheep, or any beast — the trustee swears an oath when an animal dies or is hurt with no witness, and the owner accepts it without restitution (Ex 22:10-11). But: "if it is stolen from him, he will make restitution to its owner. If it is torn in pieces, let him bring it for witness: he will not make good that which was torn" (Ex 22:12-13).

The Levitical parallel governs the case of false dealing in trust. A trespass committed against Yahweh in the deposit-register is described as dealing "falsely with his associate in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or has oppressed his associate; or has found that which was lost, and deals falsely in it, and swears to a lie" (Lev 6:2-3). Restitution-plus-fifth and a trespass-offering close the case: "he will even restore it in full, and will add the fifth part more thereto: to him to whom it pertains he will give it, in the day of his being found guilty. And he will bring his trespass-offering to Yahweh, a ram without blemish out of the flock... and the priest will make atonement for him before Yahweh; and he will be forgiven concerning whatever he does so as to be guilty by it" (Lev 6:5-7).

The Parable of the Pounds

In Luke's parable of the pounds the same trustee-figure appears in a kingdom register. A nobleman departs to receive a kingdom and entrusts ten of his slaves with a mina apiece, instructing them, "Trade⁺ until I come" (Lu 19:13). On his return he summons them to give an account of their trading. The first reports a tenfold gain — "Lord, your mina has made ten minas more" — and is rewarded: "Well done, you good slave: because you were found faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities" (Lu 19:16-17). The second reports a fivefold gain and is given five cities (Lu 19:18-19). The third returns the unused mina wrapped in a napkin, pleading fear of an austere master (Lu 19:20-21). The judgment falls out of his own mouth: "Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked slave... then why didn't you give my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have collected it with interest?" (Lu 19:22-23). The mina is transferred to the slave who already has ten: "Take away from him the mina, and give it to him who has the ten minas" (Lu 19:24), with the working principle, "to everyone who has will be given; but from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken away" (Lu 19:26).