Exodus 22 Interest-ing Laws

“If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, do not act toward them as a creditor; exact no interest from them.” (Verse 24)אִם־כֶּ֣סֶף תַּלְוֶ֗ה אֶת־עַמִּי֙ אֶת־הֶ֣עָנִ֣י עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹא־תִהְיֶ֥ה ל֖וֹ כְּנֹשֶׁ֑ה לֹ֥א תְשִׂ֖ימוּן עָלָ֥יו נֶֽשֶׁךְ׃ (שמות כב:כד) This verse provides a good example of the various laws that can be derived from a single verse. The Gemara in Bava Metzia gleans the following:1. The fact that the verse says “My people” means that if a Jew and non-Jew come to you to borrow, you should lend to the Jewish person first.2. The phrase “to the poor among you” teaches that if a poor person and a rich person came to you at the same time to borrow money, you should lend to the poor person first.3. “The poor among you” also teaches that if a poor relative comes and another poor person, you should lend to the poor relative first.The concept of lending money appears multiple times in the Torah:“Do not take from him interest or increase, but fear your God, so that your brother may live with you.” (Leviticus 25:36)אַל־תִּקַּ֤ח מֵֽאִתּוֹ֙ נֶ֣שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּ֔ית וְיָרֵ֖אתָ מֵֽאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְחֵ֥י אָחִ֖יךָ עִמָּֽךְ׃ (ויקרא כה:לו) [biblehub.com]And again:“You shall not give him your money on interest, nor give him your food for increase.” (Leviticus 25:37)אֶ֨ת־כַּסְפְּךָ֔ לֹֽא־תִתֵּ֥ן ל֖וֹ בְּנֶ֑שֶׁךְ וּבְמַרְבִּ֖ית לֹא־תִתֵּ֥ן אָכְלֶֽךָ׃ (ויקרא כה:לז) [biblehub.com]The Gemara in Bava Metzia explains that someone who violates this law could actually be liable for all three of these verses.The Rambam in Mishneh Torah, Laws of the Creditor and Debtor 1:1, extrapolates that this verse teaches that it is a positive commandment to lend money to the poor. In addition, lending money to the poor is greater than giving tzedakah. Rambam explains that if someone asks to borrow money, it means they are not yet in such a destitute position that they need to beg. Lending money saves them from becoming destitute. Rambam also derives two negative commandments from this verse:• A prohibition against asking for repayment of a loan to a poor person when it is known that the individual cannot repay.• A prohibition against participating in any aspect of a transaction with interest—as lender, recorder, or witness.