1 And there was a great H1419 cry H6818 of the people H5971 and of their wives H802 against their brethren H251 the Jews. H3064
2 For there were H3426 that said, H559 We, our sons, H1121 and our daughters, H1323 are many: H7227 therefore we take up H3947 corn H1715 for them, that we may eat, H398 and live. H2421
3 Some also there were H3426 that said, H559 We have mortgaged H6148 our lands, H7704 vineyards, H3754 and houses, H1004 that we might buy H3947 corn, H1715 because of the dearth. H7458
4 There were H3426 also that said, H559 We have borrowed H3867 money H3701 for the king's H4428 tribute, H4060 and that upon our lands H7704 and vineyards. H3754
5 Yet now our flesh H1320 is as the flesh H1320 of our brethren, H251 our children H1121 as their children: H1121 and, lo, we bring into bondage H3533 our sons H1121 and our daughters H1323 to be servants, H5650 and some of our daughters H1323 are H3426 brought unto bondage H3533 already: neither is it in our power H410 H3027 to redeem them; for other men H312 have our lands H7704 and vineyards. H3754
6 And I was very H3966 angry H2734 when I heard H8085 their cry H2201 and these words. H1697
7 Then I consulted H4427 with myself, H3820 and I rebuked H7378 the nobles, H2715 and the rulers, H5461 and said H559 unto them, Ye exact H5378 H5383 H5375 usury, H4855 every one H376 of his brother. H251 And I set H5414 a great H1419 assembly H6952 against them.
8 And I said H559 unto them, We after our ability H1767 have redeemed H7069 our brethren H251 the Jews, H3064 which were sold H4376 unto the heathen; H1471 and will ye even sell H4376 your brethren? H251 or shall they be sold H4376 unto us? Then held they their peace, H2790 and found H4672 nothing H1697 to answer.
9 Also I said, H559 It is not good H2896 that H1697 ye do: H6213 ought ye not to walk H3212 in the fear H3374 of our God H430 because of the reproach H2781 of the heathen H1471 our enemies? H341
10 I likewise, and my brethren, H251 and my servants, H5288 might exact H5383 of them money H3701 and corn: H1715 I pray you, let us leave off H5800 this usury. H4855
11 Restore, H7725 I pray you, to them, even this day, H3117 their lands, H7704 their vineyards, H3754 their oliveyards, H2132 and their houses, H1004 also the hundredth H3967 part of the money, H3701 and of the corn, H1715 the wine, H8492 and the oil, H3323 that ye exact H5383 of them.
12 Then said H559 they, We will restore H7725 them, and will require H1245 nothing of them; so will we do H6213 as thou sayest. H559 Then I called H7121 the priests, H3548 and took an oath H7650 of them, that they should do H6213 according to this promise. H1697
13 Also I shook H5287 my lap, H2684 and said, H559 So God H430 shake out H5287 every man H376 from his house, H1004 and from his labour, H3018 that performeth H6965 not this promise, H1697 even thus be he shaken out, H5287 and emptied. H7386 And all the congregation H6951 said, H559 Amen, H543 and praised H1984 the LORD. H3068 And the people H5971 did H6213 according to this promise. H1697
14 Moreover from the time H3117 that I was appointed H6680 to be their governor H6346 in the land H776 of Judah, H3063 from the twentieth H6242 year H8141 even unto the two H8147 and thirtieth H7970 year H8141 of Artaxerxes H783 the king, H4428 that is, twelve H8147 H6240 years, H8141 I and my brethren H251 have not eaten H398 the bread H3899 of the governor. H6346
15 But the former H7223 governors H6346 that had been before H6440 me were chargeable H3513 unto the people, H5971 and had taken H3947 of them bread H3899 and wine, H3196 beside H310 forty H705 shekels H8255 of silver; H3701 yea, even H1571 their servants H5288 bare rule H7980 over the people: H5971 but so did H6213 not I, because H6440 of the fear H3374 of God. H430
16 Yea, also I continued H2388 in the work H4399 of this wall, H2346 neither bought H7069 we any land: H7704 and all my servants H5288 were gathered H6908 thither unto the work. H4399
17 Moreover there were at my table H7979 an hundred H3967 and fifty H2572 H376 of the Jews H3064 and rulers, H5461 beside those that came H935 unto us from among the heathen H1471 that are about us. H5439
18 Now that which was prepared H6213 for me daily H3117 was one H259 ox H7794 and six H8337 choice H1305 sheep; H6629 also fowls H6833 were prepared H6213 for me, and once in ten H6235 days H3117 store H7235 of all sorts of wine: H3196 yet for all H5973 this required H1245 not I the bread H3899 of the governor, H6346 because the bondage H5656 was heavy H3513 upon this people. H5971
19 Think H2142 upon me, my God, H430 for good, H2896 according to all that I have done H6213 for this people. H5971
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Nehemiah 5
Commentary on Nehemiah 5 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 5
How bravely Nehemiah, as a wise and faithful governor, stood upon his guard against the attacks of enemies abroad, we read in the foregoing chapter. Here we have him no less bold and active to redress grievances at home, and, having kept them from being destroyed by their enemies, to keep them from destroying one another. Here is,
Neh 5:1-5
We have here the tears of the oppressed, which Solomon considered, Eccl. 4:1. Let us consider them as here they are dropped before Nehemiah, whose office it was, as governor, to deliver the poor and needy, and rid them out of the hand of the wicked oppressors, Ps. 82:4. Hard times and hard hearts made the poor miserable.
Neh 5:6-13
It should seem the foregoing complaint was made to Nehemiah at the time when he had his head and hands as full as possible of the public business about building the wall; yet, perceiving it to be just, he did not reject it because it was unseasonable; he did not chide the petitioners, nor fall into a passion with them, for disturbing him when they saw how much he had to do, a fault which men of business are too often guilty of; nor did he so much as adjourn the hearing of the cause or proceedings upon it till he had more leisure. The case called for speedy interposition, and therefore he applied himself immediately to the consideration of it, knowing that, let him build Jerusalem's walls ever so high, so thick, so strong, the city could not be safe while such abuses as these were tolerated. Now observe, What method he took for the redress of this grievance which was so threatening to the public.
Neh 5:14-19
Nehemiah had mentioned his own practice, as an inducement to the nobles not to burden the poor, no, not with just demands; here he relates more particularly what his practice was, not in pride or vain-glory, nor to pass a compliment upon himself, but as an inducement both to his successors and to the inferior magistrates to be as tender as might be of the people's ease.