Negative Commandment #58

Sefer Ha’mitzvos Ha’Katzar (The concise book of mitzvos) By the Chofetz Chaim

This book lists the Torah mitzvos that can be observed today

Second Section – the Negative Commandments

58. It is a negative commandment “Do not take any object that is used to make food as a pledge for a loan”

As it states in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 24:6, “do not take the upper or lower millstone as a pledge because it is taking a life for this pledge.” This law is transgressed if the pledge was given at the time of the loan or if it was taken after the loan was made, no matter if it was taken by his own hand or by court. If he loses the object or it gets burned, he violates this prohibition. A person is punished for the upper mill separately than his punishment for the lower mill. Just as the upper and lower mill are two objects used for one function and a person is punished for each of them separately, so too any time there are two objects that are used for one function, the punishments are given separately.

This applies in all places and at all times, for men and for women.

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