Another matter, “if you lend money to My people,” that is what is written: “He did not lend his money with usury” (Psalms 15:5). Come and see that anyone who has wealth and gives charity to the poor, and does not lend with interest, it is ascribed to him as though he fulfilled all the mitzvot, as it is stated: “He does not lend his money with usury, nor does he take bribes against the innocent. One who performs these will never stumble” (Psalms 15:5).
Who was [an example of] this? Ovadya, who was the wealthy steward of Ahab, as it is stated: “Ahab summoned Ovadya, who was over the household” (I Kings 18:3). He was exceptionally wealthy and he expended all his belongings for charity, as he would sustain the prophets.4See I Kings 18:4. When all that evil transpired,5The great famine described in I Kings chapter 18, which had been brought about by Elijah (see I Kings 17:1). he would borrow with interest from Yehoram son of Ahab, just enough to be sufficient for the prophets.
He fulfilled: “He did not lend his money with usury.” However, Yehoram, who lent with interest, God said: ‘Does this one still exist? Let Yehu come and kill him,’ as it is stated: “Yehu drew his bow fully, and he smote Yehoram between his shoulders; the arrow came out from his heart” (II Kings 9:24). Why “between his shoulders; the arrow came out from his heart”?
It is because he had hardened his heart and had extended his arms to collect the interest, to realize what is stated: “He gave with usury and took interest, shall he live? He shall not live” (Ezekiel 18:13). That is why He cautions them: “If you lend money to My people…[you shall not impose interest upon him].” In Jerusalem, too, they would do so, as it is stated: “Your silver has become dross [lesigim]” (Isaiah 1:22).6The verse is expounded to mean: Your money has become more [sagi], meaning that they collected interest.
What happened to them? “Rejected silver they called them [as the Lord has rejected them]” (Jeremiah 6:30). Likewise, “they will cast their silver into the streets” (Ezekiel 7:19). Why? It is because they violated what is written in the Torah: “Do not give him your money with usury” (Leviticus 25:37).