Deuteronomy 24:10-13
“When you lend your neighbor anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you. If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his garment, and bless you. It shall be righteousness to you before Yahweh your God.”
This passage is part of the Deuteronomic law code, delivered by Moses to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. It sets out ethical guidelines for communal life, emphasizing fairness and compassion, particularly towards the vulnerable in society.
What does it look like to prioritize another person's basic needs over the security of an agreement?