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how do other biblical texts, like in deuteronomy or nehemiah, address lending and debt among israelites?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8

“If there is with you a poor man, one of your brothers, within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother; but you shall open your hand wide to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wants.”

Deuteronomy is presented as Moses' farewell speeches to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the promised land. In these chapters, Moses reiterates and expands upon laws and covenants, preparing the new generation for life in their new home under God's rule. This passage specifically addresses how the community should treat its impoverished members.

what might 'lending' look like in a society where debt can be a tool of both help and exploitation?

Then — the setting

This text, likely originating from the 7th century BCE or earlier but compiled into its final form during or after the Babylonian exile (6th-5th centuries BCE), speaks to a pre-industrial agrarian society where wealth was primarily land and livestock. Poverty could arise from bad harvests, illness, or war. Loans were often not for investment, but for basic survival, and without safeguards, could lead to perpetual debt, land forfeiture, and even servitude, undermining the ideal of an equitable land distribution among Israelite families. The command here aims to prevent such cycles within the covenant community.

Across the Testaments

The Old Testament, particularly the Law (Torah) and Prophets, frequently addresses the exploitation of the poor through debt, emphasizing communal responsibility and the importance of generosity within Israel (e.g., Exodus 22:25, Ezekiel 18:7). The New Testament continues this theme, with Jesus teaching radical generosity, forgiveness of debts (often using 'debt' as a metaphor for sin, as in the Lord's Prayer), and concern for the poor and marginalized (e.g., Matthew 6:12, Luke 6:34-36, Luke 16:19-31). While the Deuteronomic law focuses on internal Israelite community, the New Testament expands the call for compassion and aid to a broader understanding of 'neighbor' and 'brotherhood' beyond ethnic lines, challenging its followers to embody the spirit of the law.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Nehemiah 5:10-11
Nehemiah addresses a situation where wealthy Jews are exploiting poorer ones through excessive interest, demanding a return of lands and property.
Leviticus 25:35-37
This passage prohibits charging interest to a fellow Israelite who has become poor, emphasizing support within the community.
Proverbs 22:7
This proverb highlights the power dynamic inherent in debt, stating that 'the borrower is servant to the lender.'

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