This chapter discussed the halakhot of innocuous and forewarned oxen.

Since restitution for damage caused by an innocuous ox is paid exclusively from the proceeds from the sale of the ox, if the ox injures or kills several other oxen while retaining its innocuous status, its value is not usually sufficient to cover the damages. The ruling in such a case is that the last damaged party receives the entire amount that he deserves, namely, half the value of the belligerent ox. Since each damaged party becomes a partner in the ownership of the ox, the next most recently damaged party receives half of what remains of the ox's value. Similarly, the damaged party prior to that receives half of what then remains and so forth.

The Gemara ruled that a forewarned ox is not considered hazardous at all times and for all purposes but only for those types of behavior for which it was rendered forewarned. For example, if it was rendered forewarned for goring a certain species of animal, or at a specific time, it is considered forewarned only with regard to that species or that time, and it retains its innocuous status with regard to other cases.

There are exceptions to the standard halakhot of compensation for Goring. If an animal consecrated to the Temple causes damage, the Temple treasury is exempt, as is a person whose ox gores a consecrated animal. A gentile who is tried under the jurisdiction of a Jewish court is liable to pay the full cost of the damage caused by his ox, even if it was innocuous; whereas if a Jew's ox gores a gentile's ox, the Jew is exempt from liability. One who is halakhically incompetent is not liable to pay compensation for damage caused by his ox. To protect society, the court appoints a steward to safeguard this person's animals, and consequently, if they cause damage, compensation can be collected.

The halakha that an ox that kills a person is sentenced in court to death by stoning, provided there are two witnesses, applies whether the victim is male or female, young or old, a freeman or a Canaanite slave. A stadium ox, which is an ox trained to gore in bullfights, is exempt from being put to death because it is considered a victim of circumstances beyond its control. An ox that kills a person unintentionally is also not killed. The purpose of paying ransom when one's ox kills a person is for the owner's atonement. The amount of the ransom is based on the monetary value of the victim. If the ox killed a Canaanite slave, his owner is paid a set amount of thirty shekels, as specified in the Torah. This chapter delineated additional halakhot pertaining to the killing of an ox that killed a person: An ox that kills a person is killed even if it is ownerless, or if its owner is not halakhically competent. If it has an owner, its verdict is issued only in his presence. Once the verdict is issued, it is prohibited to derive benefit from the ox.

The chapter concludes with a return to its discussion of damage caused by an ox. Although the owner of an ox is liable to pay for damage it causes, if he entrusts it to a bailee, the latter accepts this responsibility and is liable to pay for damage the ox causes, whereas the owner is exempt from liability. If a forewarned ox was safeguarded adequately, the owner is exempt from paying damages. With regard to an innocuous ox the Torah requires superior safeguarding; otherwise the owner is liable.