Matthew Henry Commentary Deuteronomy 24:5-13

"When a man taketh a new wife, he shall not go out in the host, neither shall he be charged with any business: he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he hath taken. No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone to pledge; for he taketh [a man`s] life to pledge. If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and he deal with him as a slave, or sell him; then that thief shall die: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee. Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do. Remember what Jehovah thy God did unto Miriam, by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt. When thou dost lend thy neighbor any manner of loan, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge. Thou shalt stand without, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring forth the pledge without unto thee. And if he be a poor man, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge; thou shalt surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his garment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before Jehovah thy God." — Deuteronomy 24:5-13 (ASV)

It is of great consequence that love be maintained between husband and wife, and that they carefully avoid everything that might cause them to become estranged from one another.

Man-stealing was a capital crime, which could not be settled, as other thefts, by restitution. The laws concerning leprosy must be carefully observed.

Thus, all who feel their consciences burdened by guilt and wrath must not conceal it or endeavor to shake off their convictions; instead, through repentance, and prayer, and humble confession, they must find the way to peace and pardon.

Some regulations are given about pledges for money lent. This teaches us to consider the comfort and livelihood of others as much as our own advantage.

Let the poor debtor sleep in his own clothing, and praise God for your kindness to him. Poor debtors ought to appreciate more than they commonly do the goodness of creditors who do not take full advantage of the law against them, nor should this forbearance ever be regarded as weakness.