SEV Biblia, Chapter 24:6
No tomarás en prenda la muela de molino , ni la de abajo ni la de arriba, porque sería prendar la vida.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 24:6
Verse 6. The nether or the upper mill-stone] Small hand-mills which can be worked by a single person were formerly in use among the Jews, and are still used in many parts of the East. As therefore the day's meal was generally ground for each day, they keeping no stock beforehand, hence they were forbidden to take either of the stones to pledge, because in such a case the family must be without bread. On this account the text terms the millstone the man's life.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 6. No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge , etc.] The first word being of the dual number takes in both stones, wherefore Vatablus renders the words, “ye shall not take for a pledge both the millstones, nor indeed the uppermost;” which is the least; so far should they be from taking both, that they were not allowed to take the uppermost, which was the shortest, meanest, and lightest; and indeed if anyone of them was taken, the other became useless, so that neither was to be taken: for he taketh [a man’s] life to pledge ; or with which his life is supported, and the life of his family; for if he has corn to supply them with, yet if his mill or millstones are pawned, he cannot grind his corn, and so he and his family must starve: and in those times and countries they did, as the Arabs do to this day, as Dr. Shaw relates, “most families grind their wheat and barley at home, having two portable millstones for that purpose; the uppermost whereof is turned round by a small handle of wood or iron, that is placed in the rim;” and these millstones being portable, might be the more easily taken for pledges, which is here forbidden, for the above reason; and this takes in any other thing whatever, on which a man’s living depends, or by which he gets his bread f422 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-13 - It is of great consequence that love be kept up between husband an wife; that they carefully avoid every thing which might make the strange one to another. Man-stealing was a capital crime, which coul not be settled, as other thefts, by restitution. The laws concernin leprosy must be carefully observed. Thus all who feel their conscience under guilt and wrath, must not cover it, or endeavour to shake of their convictions; but by repentance, and prayer, and humbl confession, take the way to peace and pardon. Some orders are give about pledges for money lent. This teaches us to consult the comfor and subsistence of others, as much as our own advantage. Let the poor debtor sleep in his own raiment, and praise God for thy kindness to him. Poor debtors ought to feel more than commonly they do, the goodness of creditors who do not take all the advantage of the la against them, nor should this ever be looked upon as weakness.
Original Hebrew
לא 3808 יחבל 2254 רחים 7347 ורכב 7393 כי 3588 נפשׁ 5315 הוא 1931 חבל׃ 2254
