<b>If thou lend money to any of My people (Exod. 22:24).</b> Scripture states elsewhere: <i>He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase, gathereth it for Him that is gracious to the poor</i> (Prov. 28:8). How is this to be understood? An Israelite desired to loan out money and when a gentile came to him to borrow money he said to himself: “Is it better to loan money to a non-Jew on interest<sup class="footnote-marker">25</sup><i class="footnote">Claiming he would then have additional money to aid the needy. But he did not use his money for that purpose. He became wealthy.</i> or to loan it to an Israelite without interest?” He loaned him (the non-Jew) the money and became wealthy. Therefore Solomon declared concerning him: <i>He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase, gathereth it for Him that is gracious to the poor</i> (Prov. 28:8). This verse alludes to Esau. Was Esau actually gracious to the poor? The fact is that he oppressed the poor, but when the kings heard that he was taking interest, they waged war against him and seized his money. With it the king erected public buildings, baths, and basilicas in the city to provide for the needs of the travelers and the residents. Hence, <i>Gathereth it for Him that is gracious to the poor</i>.