John Gill Commentary Deuteronomy 24:17

"Thou shalt not wrest the justice [due] to the sojourner, [or] to the fatherless, nor take the widow`s raiment to pledge;" — Deuteronomy 24:17 (ASV)

You shall not pervert the judgment of the stranger, [nor] of
the fatherless
Who are unable to defend themselves, and have but few, if any, to take their part; and therefore particular care should be taken by judges and civil magistrates to do them justice, or God will require it of them:

nor take a widow's raiment to pledge ;
nor anything else, as her ox or cow, (Job 24:3) ; according to the Jewish canons ^F18 , of a widow, whether she is poor or rich, a pledge is not taken; the reason given for which is, that it would raise an ill suspicion, and cause an evil report of her among her neighbours ^F19 ; and which is suggested by the Targum of Jonathan ``neither shall any of you take for a pledge the raiment of a widow, lest wicked neighbours should arise, and bring an evil report upon her, when you return the pledge unto her.'' But no doubt a poor widow is meant, and the design of the law is mercy to her, and that she might not be distressed by taking that from her she needed.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F18: Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 9. sect. 13.
• F19: Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 9. sect. 13.