Nehemiahchapter 5

A.A great cry: our children are as theirs, yet we sell them into bondagevv. 1-5

1 About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” 3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” 4 Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

B.Restore it to them this day, and the assembly answers Amenvv. 6-13

6 When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry, 7 and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them 8 and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say. 9 So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies? 10 I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury. 11 Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.” 12 “We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised. 13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of His house and possession every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

C.Twelve years as governor without eating the governor's breadvv. 14-19

14 Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 15 The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God. 16 Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land. 17 There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations. 18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy. 19 Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.

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Chapter summary

The threat turns inward.

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The threat turns inward. A great cry rises from the people against their own brethren: fields, vineyards, and houses mortgaged for grain and for the king's tribute, sons and daughters brought into bondage. Nehemiah is very angry, holds a great assembly, and confronts the nobles: 'Ye exact usury, every one of his brother… Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God?' They agree to restore the lands and the money, and he shakes out his lap as a sign against any who fails to perform it; the assembly says Amen and praises Jehovah. Then his own accounting: twelve years as governor without eating the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon the people.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

History · Nehemiah — Nehemiah overview

A. 1–5 A great cry: our children are as theirs, yet we sell them into bondage
B. 6–13 Restore it to them this day, and the assembly answers Amen
C. 14–19 Twelve years as governor without eating the governor's bread

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Leviticus 254 verses
- Leviticus 25:35Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you.
- Leviticus 25:36Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you.
- Leviticus 25:39If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.
- Leviticus 25:47If a foreigner residing among you prospers, but your countryman dwelling near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan,
- Read Leviticus 25 →
Nehemiah 134 verses
- Nehemiah 13:6While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. Some time later I obtained leave from the king
- Nehemiah 13:14Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my deeds of loving devotion for the house of my God and for its services.
- Nehemiah 13:25I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!
- Nehemiah 13:31I also arranged for contributions of wood at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, with favor.
- Read Nehemiah 13 →
Ezra 42 verses
- Ezra 4:13Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.
- Ezra 4:20And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.
- Read Ezra 4 →
Isaiah 582 verses
- Isaiah 58:6Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?
- Isaiah 58:7Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
- Read Isaiah 58 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Psalms 372 verses
- Psalms 37:21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.
- Psalms 37:26They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.
- Read Psalms 37 →
Exodus 221 verse
- Exodus 22:25If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.
- Read Exodus 22 →
Isaiah 51 verse
- Isaiah 5:7For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress.
- Read Isaiah 5 →
Deuteronomy 151 verse
- Deuteronomy 15:7If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother.
- Read Deuteronomy 15 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.