Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Hand. That is, he that is hearty and bountiful in lending to his neighbour in his necessity. Challoner.—Fœnus, in this book means simply “lending.” Rondet.—This is a work of mercy, and a sort of alms. Justice requires that the thing should be restored, and if any refuse on purpose, he is as bad as a thief. Worthington.—He who lends will receive usury from the Lord. Proverbs 19:17. Psalms 36:21.—In hand. Rich.
Verse 2. Time. The neglect of this causes many to be unwilling to lend. Calmet.
Verse 5. Hands. Like slaves. Macrob. 1.—Others kiss the face, neck, and so forth Acts 20:37.
Verse 7. Found it. Seeming to make thee partaker of his good fortune, (Jans.) or he will keep the other half as his own. Grot.
Verse 9. Injuries. Thus one loses both money and friends. Must we then never lend? If the person be poor, we must be ready to give. Calmet.
Verse 11. And delay. Or lit. “and for an alms, drag him not along.” Bible.—Let not the fraud of many deter thee from assisting the poor, for the sake of God and justice. Calmet.—Si fraudaris pecunia acquiris justitiam. Saint Ambrose Tob. iii. n. 11.
Verse 12. Commandment. Deuteronomy 15:7. Else where is your merit?
Verse 13. Friend. He is entitled to partake of all thy goods. If he be only thy fellow-creature, assist him; and God will reward thee. Matthew 6:19.
Verse 15. Heart. Greek “thy store-houses,” the poor. Calmet.—I never read that one who was liberal to the poor came to an evil death, as he has so many to intercede for him, whose prayers must be heard. Saint Jerome ad Nepot.—Works of mercy produce the best fruits. Worthington.
Verse 18. Himself. Yet he will not engage his word for more than he can pay, (verse 27 chapter 8:16) nor encourage the negligence of debtors. Proverbs 6:1.
Verse 19. Life. Or his subsistence, (chapter 19:28) though some answered for the person of another. 3 Kennicott. 20:39.
Verse 20. And. Greek “will turn away the goods of his surety, (21) and the ungrateful in mind will abandon his redeemer.” Bible.—“All hate the ungrateful,” (Cic. off. ii.) and the Persians punished such with death. Xenop. Cyr. i.—Him. Greek subjoins verse 23. Bible.
Verse 23. Estate, (dirigentes) whose affairs were prosperous. Menochius.—Hence Solomon dissuades any rash engagements.
Verse 25. Things. Tax-gatherers may deserve to fall into this misery. Calmet.
Verse 26. Not. Prudence requires that we should not ruin ourselves to help others. Worthington.
Verse 27. Shame. Clothing is like a portable house. Grot.—Man stands in need of little, and those who are content will not need to borrow. verse 29.
Verse 31. Shall. Or “has formerly entertained” those, who now reproach him, make him serve in the meanest offices, and at last cast him forth. It may also signify that people who receive ungrateful vagabonds, will be required to serve them, and had better keep them out. verse 33. Calmet.—Greek “thou shalt entertain and give drink to the most disagreeable things.” Bible.
Verse 32. Others. Greek “me.” Menochius.—Travellers carried their provisions with them. Calmet.
Verse 33. Give. Greek “depart, stranger, from the face of glory; for,” and so forth Bible.
Verse 34. Lender. Who demands his money, and upbraids his debtor. Menochius.
The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.