TO TAKE IN PLEDGE — to seize something of a debtor's as security for what he owes. In the Torah the verb stands in three verses: Exodus 22:26, the neighbour's cloak that must go back before the sun goes down; Deuteronomy 24:6, twice in one short verse, the hand-mill that may not be taken because it is a life he is taking in pledge; and 24:17, the widow's garment that may not be taken at all. Outside the Torah it is the prophets' test of a man: Ezekiel 18:7 lists restoring the debtor's pledge among the marks of the righteous and 18:16 says of the righteous son that he has taken no pledge; Amos 2:8 has Israel lying down on garments taken in pledge beside every altar; Job 22:6 is Eliphaz's charge, you have taken pledges from your brothers for nothing, and Job 24:3 the wicked taking the widow's ox in pledge (none yet on these pages). ⚠ The same three consonants spell a rope, a region, a ship's pilot, to destroy, and labour pains, which is why the count above is read from the hits and not tallied. → first discussed at Deut 24:6