Exodus 22:26

“If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, etc.] So that it seems that the lender, though he might not impose usury on the borrower, or oblige him to pay interest for what he lent him, yet for the security of his money he might take his clothes, either his bed clothes or wearing apparel, or any instruments or goods of his; but when he did, he was bound to what follows: thou shalt deliver it to him by that the sun goeth down; the reason of which appears in the next verse, with respect to his bed clothes, should that be the pledge: but Jarchi interprets it, not of his nocturnal clothes, but of his apparel in the daytime, and paraphrases it thus, “all the day thou shalt restore it…”

“If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, &c.--From the nature of the case, this is the description of a poor man. No Orientals undress, but, merely throwing off their turbans and some of their heavy outer garments, they sleep in the clothes which they wear during the day. The bed of the poor is usually nothing else than a mat; and, in winter, they cover themselves with a cloak--a practice which forms the ground or reason of the humane and merciful law respecting the pawned coat.”

“The law regarding pledges is expanded, Deuteronomy 24:6, Deuteronomy 24:10-13. return to 'Top of Page'”

“to pledge: Deu 24:6, Deu 24:10-13, Deu 24:17; Job 22:6, Job 24:3, Job 24:9; Pro 20:16, Pro 22:27; Eze 18:7, Eze 18:16; Eze 33:15; Amo 2:8 Exodus 22:27”