“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another.” Leviticus 19.1

“If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.” Exodus 22.26, 27

In the Law of God covetous and deceitful practices are consistently discouraged. Borrowing, lending, and making pledges in ancient Israel were not uncommon practices, but they appear to have been carefully engaged, with a view to justice in all its forms. God understands the weaknesses of men, and our tendency to covetousness and self-love. His Law was designed to erect a hedge against such failings and frailties, so that the economy of His people could function for justice and neighbor-love. Any borrower would expect to pay back his loan – or if he borrowed goods, to return them in full – with perhaps, but not necessarily, some interest as well. If he could not, he might be subjected to some form of restorative or even retributive justice.

Those who played fast and loose with the truth would also find themselves subject to the judgment of local rulers when their false pledges were shown to have come up short of what they promised.

It was also lawful in ancient Israel for a lender to take an item in pledge, in order to secure his loan against default by the borrower. Typically, we would imagine, the value of the pledge would be in line with the amount of the loan. This would keep borrowers from getting over their heads in debt, and it would assure lenders that the value of their loan, at least, would be returned to them, come what may.

However, the Lord expected justice to prevail in all such arrangements. The lender could actually possess the borrower’s pledge, if he chose. However, if the pledge were necessary to the lender’s wellbeing – such as a sleeping cloak – it would have to be available to him as needed. No one was allowed to take as a pledge the borrower’s means of earning a living or providing for himself and his family (Deut. 24.6). God expected lenders to act with compassion toward borrowers, and borrowers to act with integrity toward lenders.

T. M. Moore

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