You asked

what were common lending practices in the ancient near east that this law might be pushing against?

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 is part of a longer legal section in the book of Deuteronomy, presented as Moses' final instructions to the Israelites before they enter the promised land. It addresses various aspects of community life, worship, and social justice, intended to establish a distinct society under God's covenant.

What does this passage reveal about the economic and social values God intended for the Israelite community?

Then — the setting

In the ancient Near East, lending was a common practice, but it often led to severe social inequality and debt bondage. Many legal codes, such as the Code of Hammurabi (c. 1754 BC), regulated interest rates but did not prohibit them. High interest rates (often 20-33% for silver and 50% for grain) could force debtors into indentured servitude or even sell their children. This Deuteronomic law, likely established around the 7th century BCE (though reflecting older traditions), directly counters these practices by forbidding interest to fellow Israelites, aiming to prevent economic exploitation and protect the vulnerable within their covenant community.

Across the Testaments

This Old Testament law establishes a specific economic ethic for Israel, prioritizing kinship and mutual support over profit within the community. In the New Testament, Jesus' teachings, particularly in Luke 6:34-35, expand on this spirit, encouraging lending without expecting repayment, and doing good even to those who cannot repay. While not a direct legal injunction against interest, it deepens the theological principle of selfless generosity and love, moving beyond a nationalistic framework to a universal ethic that includes 'enemies,' reflecting a broader concern for humanity rather than just 'brothers.'

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Exodus 22:25
This earlier law also prohibits taking interest from the poor among the Israelites.
Leviticus 25:35-37
This passage extends the prohibition against interest, framing it within the broader context of supporting the needy within the community.
Nehemiah 5:1-13
This narrative describes Nehemiah's forceful intervention against wealthy Jews who were charging ruinous interest to their poorer brethren.

Ask your own follow-up