Usury - is the profit exacted for the loan of money, “increase” that which is taken for goods; both are forbidden Leviticus 25:36; Deuteronomy 23:19. The placing out of capital at interest for commercial purposes is not taken into consideration. The case is that of money lent to a brother in distress. read more
Ezekiel 18:5-9. If a man be just Or righteous, rather, as the word צדיק properly signifies; for it is not mere honesty, but true religion that is intended. And hath not eaten upon the mountains Feasted on the sacrifices they offered to false gods. Idolatrous worship was commonly performed upon mountains or high places; and eating part of the sacrifice was properly maintaining communion with the idol to which it was offered. Neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols In prayer and... read more
Each person is responsible (18:1-32)Many of the exiles complained that it was unjust that they should suffer because of the sins of the previous generation. True, the present captivity had resulted from the continuing decay of the nation over several generations, but the exiles could not deny that they too had sinned. There could be no excuses. They are individually responsible for their wrongdoings and they are punished accordingly (18:1-4).Examples of sins are then given. These include... read more
hath not oppressed , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:21 .Leviticus 25:14 .Deuteronomy 23:10; Deuteronomy 23:10 ). App-92 . hath restored , he. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:26 . Deuteronomy 24:6 , Deuteronomy 24:10 , Deuteronomy 24:12 , Deuteronomy 24:13 ). App-92 . hath given his bread , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 15:7 , Deuteronomy 15:8 ). read more
hath not given forth , &c. Ref'. to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:25 , Leviticus 25:36 , Leviticus 25:37 . Deuteronomy 23:19 ). App-92 . iniquity = trickery. Hebrew. 'aval . App-44 . Not the same word as in verses: Ezekiel 18:17 , Ezekiel 18:18 , Ezekiel 18:19 , Ezekiel 17:20 , Eze 17:30 . hath executed, he. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:15 , Leviticus 19:35 .Deuteronomy 1:16 , Deuteronomy 1:17 ; Deuteronomy 16:18-20 ). App-92 . read more
Ezekiel 18:8. Upon usury.— See Deuteronomy 23:19-20 : unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; whence it follows, that taking increase is not malum per se; but agreeable to justice, if duly circumstanced. Every kind and degree of usury was forbidden to the Israelites among each other, to promote a spirit of mutual kindness. But this law was peculiar to them; like their not reaping the corners of their fields, and their not gleaning their vine-trees and olive-trees. Leviticus 19:9-10.... read more
7. restored . . . pledge—that which the poor debtor absolutely needed; as his raiment, which the creditor was bound to restore before sunset (Exodus 22:26; Exodus 22:27), and his millstone, which was needed for preparing his food (Deuteronomy 24:6; Deuteronomy 24:10-13). bread to . . . hungry . . . covered . . . naked— (Isaiah 58:7; Matthew 25:35; Matthew 25:36). After duties of justice come those of benevolence. It is not enough to refrain from doing a wrong to our neighbor, we must also do... read more
8. usury—literally, "biting." The law forbade the Jew to take interest from brethren but permitted him to do so from a foreigner (Exodus 22:25; Deuteronomy 23:19; Deuteronomy 23:20; Nehemiah 5:7; Psalms 15:5). The letter of the law was restricted to the Jewish polity, and is not binding now; and indeed the principle of taking interest was even then sanctioned, by its being allowed in the case of a foreigner. The spirit of the law still binds us, that we are not to take advantage of our... read more
The case of the righteous father 18:5-9 read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:8
He that hath not given forth his money upon usury. The word "usury," we must remember, is used, not, as with us, for exorbitant interest above the market rate, but for interest of any kind. This was allowed in commercial dealings with foreigners ( Deuteronomy 23:20 ), but was altogether forbidden in the ease of loans to Israelites ( Exodus 22:25 ; Le Exodus 25:35 , Exodus 25:37 ; Deuteronomy 23:19 : Isaiah 24:2 ). The principle implied in this distinction was that, although it... read more