Deuteronomy 24:8

8 Thou shalt not take for a pledge the under millstone, nor the upper millstone; for he who does so takes life for a pledge.

Deuteronomy 24:8 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 24:8

Take heed, in the plague of leprosy
Whether in the bodies of men, or in houses, or in garments, not to hide and conceal it; or, as Jarchi, weaken the signs of it, or cut out the bright spot; so the Targum of Jonathan:

that thou observe diligently, and do according to all the priests the
Levites shall teach you:
according to the laws and rules given in such cases, whether they order to shut up persons, houses, or clothes, or pronounce unclean or clean; in all things they were to do as they directed, which appeared to be agreeably to the said rules; for the judgment, management, and ordering of these things, belonged to the priests: of which see ( Leviticus 13:1-14:57 ) ;

as I commanded them, [so] shall ye observe to do:
which shows the they were not to comply with their orders, and conform to them, any further than they agreed with the commands of God, and the instructions he had given them in the places referred to.

Deuteronomy 24:8 In-Context

6 the former husband who sent her away shall not be able to return and take her to himself for a wife, after she has been defiled; because it is an abomination before the Lord thy God, and ye shall not defile the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit.

7 And if any one should have recently taken a wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall any thing be laid upon him; he shall be free in his house; for one year he shall cheer his wife whom he has taken.

8 Thou shalt not take for a pledge the under millstone, nor the upper millstone; for he who does so takes life for a pledge.

9 And if a man should be caught stealing one of his brethren of the children of Israel, and having overcome him he should sell him, that thief shall die; so shalt thou remove that evil one from yourselves.

10 Take heed to thyself in the plague of leprosy: thou shalt take great heed to do according to all the law, which the priests the Levites shall report to you; take heed to do, as I have charged you.

Footnotes

• [a]. this man.