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how did ancient israelite society view borrowing and lending 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. To a foreigner you may lend on interest; 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 where you go in to possess it.”

This passage comes from the book of Deuteronomy, presented as Moses' farewell speeches to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the promised land. It outlines laws for their new society, including ethical guidelines for economic interactions within the community.

What responsibility does the way we manage money or resources today reflect about our relationships with those around us?

Then — the setting

This law, likely codified around the 7th century BCE, reflects the agrarian, subsistence-level economy of ancient Israel. Most loans were for consumption (e.g., food, seed) rather than investment. Charging interest (usury) on these necessary loans could trap fellow Israelites in inescapable debt and lead to destitution, threatening the social fabric of the community where land inheritance and family ties were central. The distinction between 'brother' (fellow Israelite) and 'foreigner' (non-Israelite) acknowledges different ethical obligations within and outside the covenant community, a common feature in ancient Near Eastern law codes.

Across the Testaments

The Old Testament consistently prohibits interest on loans to fellow Israelites, viewing it as exploitative within a community where mutual support was paramount. The New Testament, while not directly repealing these specific economic laws, expands the principle of generosity and selflessness. Jesus' teaching to 'lend, expecting nothing in return' (Luke 6:35) radicalizes the Deuteronomic spirit, advocating for universal generosity that transcends even the 'brother/foreigner' distinction, moving from a prohibition on exploitation to an active call for unconditional giving and compassion, especially towards the poor.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Exodus 22:25
An earlier law prohibiting interest on loans to the poor, connecting it to Yahweh's protection of the vulnerable.
Leviticus 25:35-37
This passage expands on the prohibition, emphasizing helping the needy among the community without seeking profit from their distress.
Nehemiah 5:1-13
A historical account of Nehemiah confronting leaders who exploited their own people through excessive interest during a time of famine.

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