Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 262/ספרי דברים רס״ב
א(דברים כג כ) לֹא תַשִּׁיךְ לְאָחִיךָ, זֶה לֹוֶה, מַלְוֶה מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (ויקרא כה לו): ״אַל תִּקַּח מֵאִתּוֹ נֶשֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּית״.
1Pisqa’ 2623031. “Do not exact from304; literally, “take a bite from.” Neshech, also derived from the root, n-sh-ch (“to bite”), thus means the “unfair bite taken from another.”your brother unfair terms” (Dt. 23:20)—this [verse addresses] the borrower[warning against consenting to a usurious loan].How do I know that[it applies also] to the lender[who should not profit from a usurious loan]?The Teaching states:“You may not impose upon him unfair terms,or demand a high rate [of return]” 305 literally, “interest.” // Mechilta Ishmael, kaspa’, 19. (Lv. 25:36)
במִכְּלָל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״כַּסְפְּךָ״ וְלֹא כֶּסֶף אֲחֵרִים, ״אָכְלֶךָ״ וְלֹא אֹכֶל אֲחֵרִים, אוֹ ״כַּסְפְּךָ״ וְלֹא כֶּסֶף מַעֲשֵׂר, ״אָכְלֶךָ״ וְלֹא אֹכֶל בְּהֵמָה? כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר נֶשֶׁךְ כֶּסֶף לְרַבּוֹת כֶּסֶף מַעֲשֵׂר, נֶשֶׁךְ אֹכֶל לְרַבּוֹת אָכְלֵי בְהֵמָה. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא נֶשֶׁךְ כֶּסֶף נֶשֶׁךְ אֹכֶל, מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת כָּל דָּבָר? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: נֶשֶׁךְ כָּל דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יִשָּׁךְ.
22. {“For your silver do not impose upon him unfair terms,and do not demand a mark-up306; as in tarbit. for your food” (Lv. 25:37)—}307Inferring from what is said:“Your silver” (Lv. 25:37)—[you may lend yours,]but certainly not the silver of [gentile] others.308 In this context, ‘akherim can refer either to “other [Israelites]” or to “gentile outsiders.” In light of Sifra, bahar, par. 5:3 (cf. M. BM. 5:18), the latter interpretation, which Neusner proposes as well, seems more likely. Cf. F:284, n. 11.“Your food” (Lv. 25:37)—but not the food of [gentile] others.Or, perhaps [I should infer as follows]:“Your silver” (Lv. 25:37)—but not money consecrated as Second-tithe,[which is divine property]!“Your food” (Lv. 25:37)—but not animal feed[which is not fit for human consumption]!When He uses the phrase:“Unfair terms for silver” (Dt. 23:20)—this includes money [consecrated as] Second-tithe.[When He uses the phrase:]“Unfair terms for food” (Dt. 23:20)—this includes animal feed? 309 par. 5:3, s.v., kaspekha.I might infer only that the rule applies tounfair terms for [a loan of] moneyor unfair terms for [a loan of] food.How do I know to include any other loan?The Teaching states:“Unfair terms that may be imposed upon any loan.” (Dt. 23:20).
גרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר לוֹ: צֵא וּשְׁאַל שְׁלוֹם פְּלוֹנִי, אוֹ דַּע אִם בָּא אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי מִמָּקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: נֶשֶׁךְ כָּל דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יִשָּׁךְ.
33. R. Shimon says:On what basis do I know that[a creditor] should not say [to a borrower]:Go and ask So-and-So how he’s doing!Or:Find out if So-and-So has returned from Here-or-There?The Teaching states:“Unfair terms that may be imposed upon any loan.” (Dt. 23:20).310