Deuteronomio 24:6

6 No tomarás en prenda la muela de molino, ni la de abajo ni la de arriba: porque sería prendar la vida.

Deuteronomio 24:6 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 24:6

No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge,
&c.] 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 ^F4 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 ^F5.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Travels, p. 231. Edit. 2.
F5 Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 9. sect. 13.

Deuteronomio 24:6 In-Context

4 No podrá su primer marido, que la despidió, volverla á tomar para que sea su mujer, después que fué amancillada; porque es abominación delante de Jehová, y no has de pervertir la tierra que Jehová tu Dios te da por heredad.

5 Cuando tomare alguno mujer nueva, no saldrá á la guerra, ni en ninguna cosa se le ocupará; libre estará en su casa por un año, para alegrar á su mujer que tomó.

6 No tomarás en prenda la muela de molino, ni la de abajo ni la de arriba: porque sería prendar la vida.

7 Cuando fuere hallado alguno que haya hurtado persona de sus hermanos los hijos de Israel, y hubiere mercadeado con ella, ó la hubiere vendido, el tal ladrón morirá, y quitarás el mal de en medio de ti.

8 Guárdate de llaga de lepra, observando diligentemente, y haciendo según todo lo que os enseñaren los sacerdotes Levitas: cuidaréis de hacer como les he mandado.