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how did ancient israelite society and law regulate lending and borrowing practices?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Deuteronomy 23:19-20

““You shall not lend on interest to your brother: interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest. You may lend on interest to a foreigner; but to your brother you shall not lend on interest, that Yahweh your God may bless you in all that you put your hand to, in the land into which you go to possess it.””

Deuteronomy is presented as Moses' farewell address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the promised land. It reiterates and expands on laws given at Sinai, framing them as instructions for living in covenant relationship with God in their new society. This passage is part of a larger section outlining various social and ethical regulations.

What does it mean for a community to prioritize mutual support over financial gain?

Then — the setting

This law, likely formulated during the Israelite monarchy (10th-6th centuries BCE) or slightly before, was addressed to an agrarian society where loans were typically for subsistence rather than investment. When a farmer needed to borrow, it was often due to crop failure, famine, or other misfortunes. Charging interest in such a context would push the poor further into debt and potentially into slavery, undermining the social fabric. The distinction between 'brother' (fellow Israelite) and 'foreigner' reflects the tribal and covenantal identity of ancient Israel, where internal solidarity was paramount, while economic relations with outside nations were understood differently.

Across the Testaments

The Old Testament consistently emphasizes care for the vulnerable within the community, with laws against usury for fellow Israelites appearing in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. The Prophets (e.g., Ezekiel 18:8, 13, 17) condemn charging interest, often linking it to broader injustices against the poor. In the New Testament, while there isn't a direct reiteration of the no-interest law, Jesus' teachings encourage radical generosity (Luke 6:34-35: 'lend, expecting nothing in return'), which goes beyond merely avoiding interest to actively giving without expectation of repayment, thus upholding the spirit of selfless community support found in the Old Testament laws.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Exodus 22:25
This earlier law also prohibits lending to the poor among the people with interest.
Leviticus 25:35-37
This passage further elaborates on supporting impoverished 'brothers' without charging interest or increasing profit.
Nehemiah 5:1-13
Describes Nehemiah's reforms against usury during a time of economic hardship after the exile.

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