Nehemiah 5

The plight of the poor, Nehemiah’s actions

And there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brethren. 2 For there were those who said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many; therefore let us get grain for them, so that we can eat and live”.

3 Some also there were who said, “Because of the famine, we have mortgaged our lands, vineyards and houses that we might buy grain”. 4 There were also those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our lands and vineyards. 5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children, and, look, we are bringing our sons and our daughters into bondage to become servants; and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already. Nor is it in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards”.

5:1-5 The rebuilding program going on in Jerusalem prevented people from earning their normal income. Also there were other problems of long standing. The result was the complaints of vs 1-5. The disunity revealed here was a further threat to God’s work, as indeed it always is.⚜

6 And I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7 Then I controlled my inner feelings, and I rebuked the nobles and rulers and said to them, “Every one of you is exacting usury from his brother”. And I held a great assembly against them. 8 And I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations, and will you even sell your brethren so that they have to be sold back to us?” Then they kept silent, and found no answer.

9 I also said, “What you are doing is not good. Because of the reproach of our enemy nations should you not walk in the fear of our God? 10 I too, and my brethren and my servants, are lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury! 11 This very day please restore to them their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the wine and the oil, that you exacted from them”.

5:11 It was not enough for them to admit their guilt. They had to act in a way that proved the genuineness of their repentance. God always requires men to give back what they have unjustly taken. See Matt 3:8; Luke 19:8; Ex 22:1; Lev 6:4-5; 24:18, 21; 1 Sam 12:3; 2 Sam 12:6.⚜

12 Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing from them. We will do just as you say”. Then I called the priests, and took an oath from them, that they would do according to this promise. 13 Also I shook out the front of my robe and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his work, who does not act according to this promise. Just like this may he be shaken out and emptied”. And all the congregation said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

5:13 The threat was that if they would not help the poor, God would make them poor. Compare Ps 18:25-26.⚜

14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the food of the governor. 15 But the former governors who had been before me laid burdens on the people, and took food and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants ruled the people. But I did not, because of the fear of God. 16 Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall, and we did not buy any land. And all my servants gathered there for the work.

17 Moreover, there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those visiting us from among the nations that are around us. 18 Now what was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days an abundant supply of all sorts of wine. Yet in spite of all this I did not demand the governor’s food allowance, because the servitude was heavy on this people.

5:14-18 See Nehemiah’s spirit of service. He set an example to all, not claiming what was his rights as governor. He was there to serve, not to be a burden to others, or to use his position to enrich himself. See also Paul’s way – 1 Cor 9:1-23; 2 Thess 3:8-9. Let us be eager to follow their example.⚜

5:18 As governor he had to show hospitality, but even in that he refused the provisions to which he was entitled. He was concerned for the people, not for how he could stuff his own pockets.⚜

19 Think of me, my God, for good, in accordance with all that I have done for this people.