Bava Metzia 71 - Taking Interest from Non-Jews is also Prohibited (Finds)

King Solomon and his court prohibited taking interest from non-Jews, as it says in Proverbs, "One who increases his wealth by interest collects it for he who favors the poor"- and who will distribute the interest to the poor after the usurer's demise.

This prohibition is because if the financier becomes used to taking interest, he may come to take it from Jews, too. Excluded are cases of minor interest, "enough to live on," and Torah scholars who know the law and will not come to take interest from the Jews. Later on, taking interest from non-Jews became permitted since it was not possible otherwise.

Art: King Solomon by Simeon Solomon