You asked

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

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

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 is part of the Law given to the Israelite people through Moses as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. It sets out ethical guidelines for their community life, emphasizing practices that distinguish them from surrounding nations and promote internal solidarity.

What systems exist in our communities today that could create or alleviate cycles of debt for those in need?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Nehemiah 5:10-11
Nehemiah condemns wealthy Jews who were charging high interest rates to their impoverished brothers during a time of famine and heavy taxes, demanding they return the collateral and the interest.
Leviticus 25:35-37
This passage commands Israelites to support their poor countrymen without charging interest, emphasizing their shared identity as those redeemed by God from Egypt.
Exodus 22:25
An earlier law stating that if an Israelite lends money to a poor person among his people, he should not act as a creditor nor charge interest.

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