Proverbs 22:26-27 - Exposition

A warning against suretyship, often repeated. Be not thou one of them that strike hands; i.e. that become guarantees for others (see on Proverbs 17:18 ; Proverbs 20:16 ; and comp. Proverbs 6:1 ; Proverbs 11:15 ). Sureties for debts. The writer explains what kind of guarantee he means. Why should he (the creditor) take away thy bed from under thee? Why should you act so weakly as to give a creditor power to seize your very bed as a pledge? The Law endeavoured to mitigate this penalty ( Exodus 22:26 , Exodus 22:27 ; Deuteronomy 24:12 , Deuteronomy 24:13 ). But doubtless its merciful provisions were evaded by the moneylenders (see Nehemiah 5:11 ; Ezekiel 18:12 , "hath not restored the pledge").