Exodus 22:21-24Deuteronomy 10:19Psalm 82:3-4Proverbs 31:8-9Leviticus 25:35-37Leviticus 25:23Deuteronomy 10:14Deuteronomy 8:1-10
Thus Old Testament forbade charging interest to fellow Israelites (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-38; Deuteronomy 23:19 ), for requesting loans indicated economic hardship. One might charge interest to sojourners (Deuteronomy 23:20 ), though this arrangement was not meant to be exploitative (Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:19; Ezekiel 22:7 ). Laws for collateral focused on protecting the debtor. The pledge must not threaten the debtor's dignity (Deuteronomy 24:10-11 ), livelihood (Deuteronomy 24:6 ), family (Job 24:1-3 ,Job 24:1-3,24:9 ), or physical necessities (Exodus 22:26-27; Deuteronomy 24:12-13 ). Compassionate lending was one measure of a righteous person (Psalm 15:1; Ezekiel 18:5-9 ).
Years of release and the jubilee year (Exodus 23:10-11; Deuteronomy 15:1-15; Leviticus 25:1 ) provided a systematic means for addressing long-term economic hardship by returning family property, freeing slaves, and canceling debts. Deuteronomy 15:7-11 warns against scheming creditors who would refuse loans because a year of release was near; lending was to be an act of generosity ( Deuteronomy 15:10 ). As in most human communities, greed prevailed; and the prophets railed against the exploitation of the poor (e.g., Amos 2:6-8; Amos 8:4 ), including violations of charging interest and abusing pledges (Ezekiel 18:12-13; Ezekiel 22:12; Habakkuk 2:6-9; see Nehemiah 5:6-11 ). See Borrow, Borrowing; Coins; Ethics in the Bible; Jubilee, Year of; Justice; Law; Poor, Widows, Orphans, Levites; Sabbatical Year; Slavery; Stranger
David Nelson Duke
The product of over 6 years of work by hundreds of people, the Holman Bible Dictionary manages to be readable and easy to use, yet take advantage of the finest modern Bible scholarship without heavy technical language. The over 6,600 entries includes extensive cross-referencing of related articles, and quotes from 6 different Bible translations.Wikipedia
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