You asked

what was the common practice of lending or debt in ancient near eastern societies at this time?

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

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 to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.”

This passage is part of Moses' address to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the promised land, likely recorded in the 7th century BCE. It lays out laws for their new society, focusing on how they should live justly and care for one another, particularly the vulnerable, within their community.

What does 'sufficient for his need, whatever it may be' imply about responsibility in economic relationships?

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Read alongside it

Leviticus 25:35-37
This passage prohibits charging interest on loans to fellow Israelites, emphasizing community support over profit.
Nehemiah 5:1-13
This account shows Nehemiah confronting leaders who were exploiting the poor through excessive debt and interest, highlighting social injustice.
Proverbs 22:7
This proverb warns about the power dynamics of debt, stating 'The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.'

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