Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 24:6
No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh [a man’s] life to pledge.
6. Mill or Upper Millstone not to be taken in Pledge. This would be to pledge life itself. Milling (as largely still in Palestine) was mainly domestic, the first indispensable duty of the day; the sound of the millstones as sure a sign of a living family as the light of the candle (Jer 25:10, Rev 18:22; see Jerus. i. 375 f.). The mill, like the Western ‘quern,’ consisted of two stones, as the dual form of the Heb. name indicates ( reaim, cp. Ar. ra, Baldensperger, PEFQ, 1904, 263), of which the upper, Heb. rkeb, rider, LXX , was the lighter and more easily lifted (Jdg 9:53).
This law is peculiar to D, and related to the next but two (10 13), which however is in the direct form of address, as this is not, and uses ‘abat for pledge instead of abal (lit. bind) as here. The position of the law is natural after the previous one. In Israel, lands, houses and children were mortgaged (Neh 5:3; Neh 5:5), in Babylonia and Assyria slaves, lands and houses (Johns, op. cit. ch. 24). Of such pledges there is nothing in D, but note the next law. ‘The ancient Common Law of England provides that no man be distrained by the utensils or instruments of his trade or profession Cook ( sic), I Inst., fo. 47.’ (M. Henry.)
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Compare Exo 22:25-26.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Deu 24:6
No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge.
The law respecting millstones
The Jewish law was important to that people as their national code. Its enactments were wisely adapted to their condition and the land they inhabited, and were calculated to secure their prosperity. But these considerations alone would not have justified its adoption in the Word of God. The Divine mind aims at higher objects than those which are included in this worlds prosperity. Who can imagine, with a worthy idea of infinite wisdom, the laws of this and the two foregoing chapters to have come from God, unless besides the letter in which they served the Jews, they have some deeper import by which they can give wisdom to Christians? Before proceeding further with the subject before us, let me remind you of that most important fact, which is equally true in vegetable growth and in the growth of religion, that all progress is gradual. It is first the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear. But corn, before it is fit for human food, must be brought to the mill and ground; and this operation is more especially connected with the subject before us.
I. The use of grinding is two fold: first, the separation of the husk and less nutritious portion from the richer interior substance of the corn; and secondly, the trituration and pulverising, which reduces the grain to flour and thus presents it fully prepared for the sustentation of man. Both these essential services are done by the mill. In ancient times each family had its own mill, and the flour for daily use was ground each day. The mill was composed of two circular flat stones; one the upper, the other the lower. In the upper one there was a hole, in which a wooden handle was fixed, by which it was made to go round. The persons grinding sat to their work, and frequently when women did it there would be two, and one passed the handle round to the other, and so the work went on. To this our blessed Lord alludes when He says, at the end of the Church, meant by the end of the age, or world: Two women shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken and the other left (Mat 24:41). These circumstances all guide us to the correspondence. Corn corresponds to the good in life to which truth leads. The virtues which our views of religion open up to us are a harvest of graces; but, as general principles, they are not quite ready for daily use. They require to be rationally investigated, to be stripped of the forms in which we learned them, and to be accommodated to our own wants and circumstances. This is one of the works of the rational faculty in man. In this respect it is a spiritual mill. To know and understand the truth, that we may love and practise it, this is the spirit in which to read and hear the Word. The wisdom we understand enters into the mind, the wisdom we love enters into the heart. The opening of Thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding unto the simple (Psa 119:130). The words which remain in the memory, and do not enter the intellect, leave us, and have left the world, unenlightened and unedified. The grand use of the rational faculty, then, as a spiritual mill is evident. May we never surrender it, or barter it away. But the mill had two stones, an upper and a nether millstone. Stones represent truths of doctrine, especially in relation to the firmness they afford as a foundation and a defensive wall to our faith. In this sense stones are constantly employed in the Word (Isa 28:16; Mat 7:24-25; Luk 20:17; 1Pe 2:5). The two stones of which the mill consists represent the two grand truths into which the whole Word divides itself: those which teach love to God and love to man. The upper stone is the symbol of the first and great commandment. Our Lord refers to this when answering the question, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind (Mat 22:36-38). The two tables of stone, upon which the Ten Commandments, the first and the essential principles of all the Divine Word, were written, were intended to represent the same two-fold division of all heavenly lessons. The mill, then, with its two stones, represents the rational faculty when it is furnished with these two grand truths. With these two universal principles it can do, and is intended to do, the utmost service to man. Everything that enters the mind should be submitted to its inspection and action. Whatever is taught in relation to God which is inconsistent with love to God and love to man should be rejected; whatever is in harmony with both should be received. All that love would do God will do, for God is love; all that love would reject, God will reject, for God is love. So in relation to man. Our duty in all things is to measure our conduct by the great law, Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets (Mat 7:12). Such is the spiritual mill, and such is its operation. What a wide field of use it has; and how essential is that use! To try to sift, to discriminate, to adapt all that we learn, so that fallacy and mere appearance may be rejected, and only what is really conducive to salvation and blessing be retained: What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.
II. With this view of the important objects and indispensable character of the millstones, seen in their correspondence, we shall be prepared to see in spiritual light the reason of the command in our text: No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a mans life to pledge. The rational faculty, and its two grand essential principles, must never be parted with, nor even be placed in abeyance. Oh! that this great truth that we ought never to suspend, never to forego the use of this grand principle, our rational faculty, were engraven on every heart. In this sublime portion of our nature the essential means of manhood reside. He will never become a man who never thoughtfully dares to reason for himself; who never strives to penetrate the appearances of things, and see with a single eye Divine realities. Here is the judgment seat for each mind. How poor a being he becomes who fears to use this glorious capability, let degenerate millions answer. He has not the fixed instincts of brutes and their obedience to the laws of their order, and while he is born with debased affections, he does not use this grand means of rising forever higher. Without that we cannot free ourselves from our own passions and prejudices, much less from the domination of other men. Without that we cannot rise to the freedom of citizens of heaven. We are things, not men. Let, then, no man take your mill; it is your life. But neither the lower nor the upper millstone must be taken. The two grand essential truths, upon which all others hang, must neither of them be given up. Whatever is not in harmony with them ought not to be received. Whatever is unworthy of our love to God, whatever would lessen our love to man, should be rejected at once. How great a source of elevation should we constantly have, if in all our hearing and reading we should bring our spiritual corn to the mill, furnished with these spiritual stones!
III. Finally, let me earnestly impress upon you all the importance of using the mill. There is no possibility of true manhood being attained without a conscientious use of reason in receiving the things of God. Have no fear in employing the glorious faculties Divine mercy has blessed you with Oh! that men would, rise manfully to the dignity of their, high character as rational and immortal beings capable of reserving the truth, judging of it, loving it, and making it their own by practice. Reject every attempt to place this heavenly mill in pledge, for it is your real manhood, your life, that is wished to be taken, when you are told to forego the use of your reason. Above all, let us see well that our mill is ever, in good condition, the nether and the upper stones. Let us receive no instruction that is inconsistent with love to our neighbour, the spiritual nether millstone. Let no sectarian sentiments, no idea that heaven was made just for this small party who think with us, or that gain our assent. Let us unite with men of love and virtue, of every name, assured that of such is the kingdom of heaven. Let not the upper millstone go into pledge. Let us unceasingly try every sentiment proposed to us as true by the great supreme law of love to God above all things. (J. Bayley, Ph. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The nether or the upper millstone, used in their handmills; of which see Exo 11:5; Num 11:8; Jer 25:10. Under this one kind he understands all other things necessary to get a livelihood, the taking away whereof is against the laws both of charity and prudence, seeing by those things alone he can be enabled both to subsist and to pay his debts.
A mans life, i.e. his livelihood, or the necessary supports of his life.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. No man shall take the nether orthe upper millstone to pledgeThe “upper” stone beingconcave, covers the “nether” like a lid; and it has a smallaperture, through which the corn is poured, as well as a handle bywhich it is turned. The propriety of the law was founded on thecustom of grinding corn every morning for daily consumption. Ifeither of the stones, therefore, which composed the handmill waswanting, a person would be deprived of his necessary provision.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge,…. 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 d 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 e.
d Travels, p. 231. Edit. 2. e Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 9. sect. 13.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Various Prohibitions. – Deu 24:6. “ No man shall take in pledge the handmill and millstone, for he (who does this) is pawning life.” , the handmill; , lit., the runner, i.e., the upper millstone. Neither the whole mill nor the upper millstone was to be asked for as a pledge, by which the mill would be rendered useless, since the handmill was indispensable for preparing the daily food for the house; so that whoever took them away injured life itself, by withdrawing what was indispensable to the preservation of life. The mill is mentioned as one specimen of articles of this kind, like the clothing in Exo 22:25-26, which served the poor man as bed-clothes also. Breaches of this commandment are reproved in Amo 2:8; Job 22:6; Pro 20:16; Pro 22:27; Pro 27:13.
Deu 24:7-9 Repetition of the law against man-stealing (Exo 21:16). – Deu 24:8, Deu 24:9. The command, “ Take heed by the plague of leprosy to observe diligently and to do according to all that the priests teach thee,” etc., does not mean, that when they saw signs of leprosy they were to be upon their guard, to observe everything that the priests directed them, as Knobel and many others suppose. For, in the first place, the reference to the punishment of Miriam with leprosy is by no means appropriate to such a thought as this, since Miriam did not act in opposition to the priests after she had been smitten with leprosy, but brought leprosy upon herself as a punishment, by her rebellion against Moses (Num 12:10.). And in the second place, this view cannot be reconciled with , since with , either to be upon one’s guard against (before) anything (2Sa 20:10), or when taken in connection with , to beware by the soul, i.e., for the sake of the worth of the soul ( Jer 17:21). The thought here, therefore, is, “Be on thy guard because of the plague of leprosy,” i.e., that thou dost not get it, have to bear it, as the reward for thy rebellion against what the priests teach according to the commandment of the Lord. “Watch diligently, that thou do not incur the plague of leprosy” ( Vulgate); or, “that thou do not sin, so as to be punished with leprosy” ( J. H. Michaelis).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verse 6:
“Nether and upper millstone,” rechayim, “the two millstones.” Flour was freshly-ground each day, and to take either the upper or the lower millstone would render the mill useless and would deprive the family of their food. This statute prohibits the taking of either millstone as collateral for a loan.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Deu 24:6
No man shall take the nether. God now enforces another principle of equity in relation to loans, (not to be too strict (107)) in requiring pledges, whereby the poor are often exceedingly distressed. In the first place, He prohibits the taking of anything in pledge which is necessary to the poor for the support of existence; for by the words which I have translated meta and catillus, i e. , the upper and nether millstone, He designates by synecdoche all other instruments, which workmen cannot do without in earning their daily bread. As if any one should forcibly deprive a husbandman of his plough, or his spade, or harrow, or other tools, or should empty a shoemaker’s, or potter’s, or other person’s shop, who could not exercise his trade when deprived of its implements; and this is sufficiently clear from the context, where it is said, “He taketh a man’s life to pledge,” together with his millstones. He, then, is as cruel, whosoever takes in pledge what supports a poor man’s life, as if he should take away bread from a starving man, and thus his life itself, which, as it is sustained by labor, so, when its means of subsistence are cut off, is, as it were, itself destroyed.
(107) Added from Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) MILLSTONES NOT TO BE TAKEN IN PLEDGE (Deu. 24:6)
6 No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone to pledge; for he taketh a mans life to pledge.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 24:6
412.
What would be a synonym for the word pledge?
413.
Why would anyone be willing to give a millstone as a pledge? Approximate a circumstance (imaginary) where this would be true.
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 24:6
6 No man shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for he would be taking a life in pledge.
COMMENT 24:6
The A.V. has the nether or the upper millstone. J.F.B. remarks, The upper stone being concave, covers the nether like a lid; and it has a small aperture, through which the corn [grain] is poured, as well as a handle by which it is turned. The propriety of the law was founded on the custom of grinding corn [grain] every morning for daily consumption. If either of the stones, therefore, which composed the hand-mill was wanting, a person would be deprived of his necessary provision.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(6) The nether or the upper millstone.Literally, the two millstones, or even the upper one.
A mans life.Literally, a soul. This word connects the two verses (6, 7).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. No man shall take the millstone to pledge The handmill of the people consisted of two stones. It was necessary for preparing the ordinary food of the family, and was therefore exempt from execution for debt. Comp. Exo 22:25-26.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
A Mill Or Millstone May Not Be Taken In Pledge ( Deu 24:6 ).
Deu 24:6
‘ No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone to pledge, for he takes a man’s life to pledge.’
The next case of fair dealing and consideration consisted of when a pledge was taken for a loan. Such a pledge must never be a man’s mill, or the detachable upper millstone. To take either would be to take away the man’s ability to prepare his food. This was probably the small mill that each household would have in order to grind the unmilled grain. By taking this the creditor would be taking the man’s very life. This must never happen.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Ver. 6. No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge This law is of the same merciful kind with that in Exo 22:26-27 which is repeated in the following verses; and it is founded upon the same equitable and compassionate reasons. On the same account it was, that at Rome they were forbidden to take the oxen or plough of a labourer, for the payment of his debts; and there is the same humane provision in our laws also, which prohibit the distraining of a labouring man’s working tools or implements. See Blackstone’s Commentaries, Book 3: ch. 1.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
This precept had much of mercy in it, because the nether, or upper mill-stone, was daily needed to grind the borrower’s food. But, do I not see here a fence thrown up, to secure to a believer, his inheritance both in the upper and the nether springs of all our mercies in JESUS? Reader, depend upon it, if JESUS be your portion, or as this verse expresseth it, your life, you cannot pledge him, neither can any take him from you. Sweet thought! in all our wants, in all our poverty, borrowings, and distresses, though the creditor be come to take our two sources of comfort from us, in the upper and the nether springs of JESUS’S love; the vessels of grace shall be filled, and we shall have enough and to spare. See that sweet scripture, and read the spiritual illustration of it in proof, 2Ki 4:1-7 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Deu 24:6 No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh [a man’s] life to pledge.
Ver. 6. A man’s life.] That is, his livelihood. A poor man in his house is like a snail in his shell, crush that and you kill him. See Luk 8:43 Mar 12:44 . All her life, , that is, all her living.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Deu 24:6
6No one shall take a handmill or an upper millstone in pledge, for he would be taking a life in pledge.
Deu 24:6 handmill or an upper millstone This refers to the upper stone of a two-stone grinding mill (BDB 932, 939, cf. Exo 11:5; Jdg 9:53; 2Sa 11:21), which was used to prepare daily bread. The upper part was useless without the matching bottom piece.
in pledge This term, in pledge, (BDB 286, KB 285) basically means to bind. When one borrows he is obligated to repay. To secure this repayment (without interest to a fellow Israelite) the creditor could take something of value and hold it:
1. grinding stone, Deu 24:6
2. garments, Deu 24:17; Exo 22:25-27; Job 24:7; Job 24:10
3. ancestral land and houses, Neh 5:3 (possibly Job 24:2)
4. an essential animal, Job 24:3
5. essential help, the children, Exo 21:7; Lev 25:39-43; 2Ki 4:1; Job 24:9
Each of these items were a necessary part of daily agricultural existence. To remove any one of these jeopardized the family, even life itself. YHWH’s compassion and care for Israel was to be emulated by those Israelites who had resources. God would bless them for their compassion. They would be given more so that they could share more (cf. Deu 24:13; 2Co 9:6-10).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
millstone. Hand-mills found in every house. Corn ground daily.
pledge. Hebrew. kabal = something tied up with a cord, hence the term bond (= bound); compare Ex. Deu 22:26, transferred to the person so bound. Compare Deu 24:10-13.
life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
shall take: Small hand-mills, which ground at one time only a sufficient quantity for a day’s consumption; hence they were forbidden to take either of the stones to pledge, because if they did, they would be deprived of the means of preparing their necessary food, and the family be without bread. On this account they are called in the text, a man’s life. The same reason holds good against receiving in pledge, or distraining for debt, any instrument of labour, by which men earn their livelihood. Exo 22:26, Exo 22:27, Rev 18:22
life: Deu 20:19, Gen 44:30, Luk 12:15
Reciprocal: Job 24:3 – drive Eze 33:15 – restore Mar 12:44 – all her
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 24:6. Millstone Used in their hand-mills. Under this he understands all other things necessary to get a livelihood, the taking away whereof is against the laws both of charity and prudence, seeing by those things alone he can be enabled both to subsist and to pay his debts. Life His livelihood, the necessary support of his life.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
XXIV. 6f., 1013, which stood perhaps originally together, belong to the many humanitarian laws of D (Deu 15:12-18*). Corn is still ground in the home in Palestine; this is done by the rotation of an upper on a lower round stone (cf. the British quern used in Scotland in 1880 according to E. B. Tylor (Academy, vol. xviii. (1880) p. 204).
Deu 24:7. Exo 21:16 (JE). Here the law is narrower. In CH ( 14) it is only the nobleman who may not be stolen (Deu 15:12-18*).
Deu 24:8 f. See Lev 13:14 f.* (P). JE is silent on the matter. Probably some lost code or torah is referred to in Deu 24:8.
Deu 24:10-13. Exo 22:26 f.* Modern Arabs often sleep in their day clothes (Aba, etc.) as the present writer has himself in Palestine had to do on occasions, even when spending the night in an Arab sheikhs house.
Deu 24:12. Cf. Deu 24:6.
Deu 24:14 f. Lev 19:13 (H). In CH ( 268277) there is a scale of charges for the hire of animals (ox for threshing, etc.) or of things (ships, etc.).
Deu 24:16. See Deu 21:1-9*.
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
24:6 No man shall take the nether or the upper {d} millstone to pledge: for he taketh [a man’s] life to pledge.
(d) Not anything by which a man gets his living.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Stealing livelihood and life 24:6-7
To take a millstone from a person amounted to depriving him of his ability to grind his meal to make his daily bread (Deu 24:6). Evidently a small millstone is in view here, not a large one that required an animal to turn. Kidnapping violated the right to freedom of choice that God wanted every Israelite to enjoy (Deu 24:7; cf. Exo 21:16).