Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 18:8

8 He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man.

Lent or put into anothers hand, on condition of returning not the same, or equal value, but much more.

Biting usury (as the word implieth) which no doubt is prohibited, because of the injury it doth to the borrower, and the undue gain it brings to the lender. A rigorous imposing conditions of gain for the loan of Money, or Goods, and exacting them without respect to the condition of the borrower, whether he gain, or lose; whether poverty occasioned his borrowing, or whether visible likelihood of gain by imploying the borrowed Goods; which sort of usury is against both the Law of Charity, as well as against the express Will of God, who prohibits it. Exod. 22.25. Lev. 25.35, 36, 37. Deut. 23.19, 20.

Any, is not in the Hebrew, though Interpreters here insert it for the greater Emphasis, and weight.

This increase here mentioned is by the Criticks in the Hebrew said to be, either a receiving of the borrower some gratuity for lending that, for which the borrower must pay use also; a kind of oppression too common among us, called Procuration, or Continuation; or else when the Buyer is required to increase the price, or return the thing he bought, which growing dearer than at the time he received it, proves an oppression to him. And this I suppose was usual among the Covetous Traders, who sold and gave day for payment, but if the Commodity grew dearer, they exacted the thing again, or the increased price.

This I think is not here to be taken in the larger sense, as if it refer'd to all iniquity, but in a restrictive sense, and as it refers to the iniquity, and injustice of Lenders and Sellers; he that wit[illegible: 1 letter] care, and conscience hath withdrawn his hand from all indirect, or direct wayes of forbidden usury.

This refers to this particular case of usury and taking increase; as if the Prophet would make every man judge of the case e're he takes any thing, and requires him to judge according to truth, whether any, or how much may be expected, and received, whether no wrong be to the lender or borrower in the ca[illegible: 1 letter]e. And so the whole will amount to this, he that in his lending hath truly weighed the borrowers case, and used him with kindness as he would be used himself, this man is no Usurer.

Marginal references: Ps. 15.5.