And if the man be poor, you shall not sleep with his pledge:
All Commentaries on Deuteronomy 24:12 Go To Deuteronomy 24
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Night, if it be a garment or bed covering, which may be necessary for the poor man. (Haydock)
By allowing the creditor to keep the pledge such a short time, God wished to discourage the taking of any from such as were in real distress. (Menochius)
The same regulation required, that if a necessary implement for labour, during the day time, was pledged, it should be returned in the morning. (Calmet)
This was done every day, to admonish the creditor and the debtor to exercise mercy and justice in their respective situations. The debtor was to remember to do his utmost in order to pay his debts. (St. Augustine, q. 41.)
These daily debts were not remitted in the sabbatic years, according to the Rabbins, whose opinion seems very hard and inconsistent. (Haydock)
Solomon advises not to stand bond for another's debts, Proverbs xx. 16., and xxii. 26. Many nations in the Indies allowed no action at law to recover debts, as the creditor ought to have taken his precautions before he parted with his money or merchandize. (Stoboeus.; Strabo, xv.) (Calmet)
