You asked

what were common lending practices and their social consequences in ancient israel?

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 into which you are entering to possess it.”

Deuteronomy is a book attributed to Moses, presented as his final speeches to the Israelites as they stood on the border of the promised land. This section contains specific laws and ethical instructions for how they are to live once settled, including guidelines for community life, justice, and economic practices.

What responsibilities do we have to those within our community when they are in financial need?

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Read alongside it

Exodus 22:25
Another foundational law prohibiting interest when lending to a poor Israelite, emphasizing protection for the vulnerable.
Leviticus 25:35-37
Expands on the prohibition of interest and exploitation, linking it to the wider laws of generosity and care for the needy within the community.
Nehemiah 5:1-13
Illustrates the social consequences of exploitative lending practices in post-exilic Jerusalem and Nehemiah's forceful response.

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