John Gill Commentary Luke 11:5

"And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves;" — Luke 11:5 (ASV)

And he said to them, which of you will have a friend ,
&c.] A neighbour, or acquaintance:

and will go to him at midnight ;
which may seem a very unseasonable time, and which nothing but real distress, not knowing what otherwise to do, would put a man upon:

and say to him, friend, lend me three loaves :
it was usual of the Jews to borrow bread of one another, and certain rules are laid down, when, and on what condition, this is to be done; as for instance, on a sabbath day ^F11 ,

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FOOTNOTES:

• F11: ``a man may ask of his friend vessels of wine, and vessels of oil, only he must not say, lend me: and so a woman, (twrkk htrybxm) , "bread of her friend".''
• F12: ``so said Hillell, let not a woman lend (htrbxl rkk) "bread to her friend", till she has fixed the price; lest wheat should be dearer, and they should be found coming into the practice of usury.''
• F13: For what was lent, could not be demanded again under thirty days.