Deuteronomy 24:10

10 When you make a loan of any kind to your neighbor, don't enter his house to claim 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Deuteronomy 24:10 In-Context

8 Warning! If a serious skin disease breaks out, follow exactly the rules set down by the Levitical priests. Follow them precisely as I commanded them.

9 Don't forget what God, your God, did to Miriam on your way out of Egypt.

10 When you make a loan of any kind to your neighbor, don't enter his house to claim his pledge.

11 Wait outside. Let the man to whom you made the pledge bring the pledge to you outside.

12 And if he is destitute, don't use his cloak as a bedroll;