Deuteronomy 24:17-18

(14) JUSTICE TO THE INDIGENT (Deuteronomy 24:17-18)

17 Thou shalt not wrest the justice due to the sojourner, or to the fatherless, nor take the widow's raiment to pledge; 18 but thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and Jehovah thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 24:17, 18

428.

Who was to enforce these various laws? Cf. Deuteronomy 1:16-17; Deuteronomy 16:18-20.

429.

Who would be classified as a sojourner? What justice was due him?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 24:17, 18

17 You shall not pervert justice due to the stranger or the sojourner or the fatherless, or take a widow's garments in pledge;
18 But you shall [earnestly] remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this:

COMMENT 24:17, 18

The principles were to be observed by all, and enforced by the judges (Deuteronomy 1:16-17; Deuteronomy 16:18-20). As we saw above (Deuteronomy 24:10-13) a poor person often had only one or two garmentsand the same garment often served as a nightgown and blanket. Thus the widow's was not to be taken as a pledge.

On Deuteronomy 24:18, see also Deuteronomy 10:17-19, Leviticus 19:33-34.