Deuteronomy 24:10

10 When you do lend your neighbor any manner of loan, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge.

Deuteronomy 24:10 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 24:10

When thou dost lend thy brother anything
Any sum of money he stands in need of, or demanded a debt of him, as Jarchi; money he is indebted to thee, which is the sense of the Septuagint version; and he is not able to pay it, but offers something: in pawn till he can pay it:

thou shall not go into his house to fetch his pledge;
which would be an exercise of too much power and authority, to go into a neighbour's house, and take what was liked; and besides, as no doubt he would take the best, so he might take that which the poor man could not spare: and indeed, according to the Jewish canons F11, he could not take any pledge at all, but with the knowledge, and by the leave, of the sanhedrim, or court of judicature.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 9. sect. 13.

Deuteronomy 24:10 In-Context

8 Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that you observe diligently, and do according to all that the Kohanim the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so you shall observe to do.
9 Remember what the LORD your God did to Miryam, by the way as you came forth out of Mitzrayim.
10 When you do lend your neighbor any manner of loan, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge.
11 You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you do lend shall bring forth the pledge outside to you.
12 If he be a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge;
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.