1The people complain of their debts, which had compelled them to mortgage their lands, and sell their children into bondage. 6Nehemiah rebuketh the usurers, and causeth them to swear to make a full and free restitution. 14He refuseth the governor's usual allowance, and keepeth up hospitality at his own expense.
1AND there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their 1brethren the Jews.
1 Understand for the most part the rich and the mighty ones, who by usury and pawns drained out and oppressed the common people, as follows.
2For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: 2therefore we take upa corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
2 Other, Let us take up corn that we may, etc.
a obtain on credit*
3Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the 3dearth.
3 This dearth and distress of the people may partly have risen from this that all the while this building lasted, they were constrained to omit and to neglect the taking care to lay up in store for their own families, and partly because through fear of the enemy they could not fetch in provision from abroad.
4There were also that said, We have borrowed money 4for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
4 To be able to pay it. See thereof Ezra 4:13. From this only the priests, Levites and other ministers of the temple were exempted, Ezra 7:24.
5Yet now our 5flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be 6servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: 7neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
5 That is, we are in God’s account as much as they, for, we are, as well as they, Abraham’s seed and in covenant with God.
6 Understand herewith: and bondwomen.
7 Other, and it is not in the power of our hands to redeem them, for, etc.
6¶And I was 8very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
8 Hebr. to me kindled greatly, namely, anger.
7Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the 9nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye 10exact 11usury, every one of his brother. And I 12set a great assembly against them.
9 Hebr. white ones. See Neh. 2 on verse 16.
10 Or, impose, wring from, extort. Other, Ye lend, every one unto his brother with a burden, and so in the sequel.
11 Understand by this usury, the interest and mortgaging or pawning of goods and men.
12 Hebr. properly: I gave; that is, I appointed a great assembly.
8And I said unto them, We 13after our ability have 14redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were 15sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
13 Hebr. after the sufficiency in or by or under us, that is, as much as it was in our power.
14 See Lev. 25:47, 48, 49.
15 This was probably done by the Babylonians.
9Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the 16reproach of the heathen our enemies?
16 That is, that ye may not give occasion to the heathen, that are both God’s and our enemies, to blaspheme the Name of God, and to upbraid us contumeliously, that we do unto each other, which we hated and discommended in them.
10I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, 17might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this 18usury.
17 See on verse 7. Nehemiah wants to say, that he excused the congregation in all manner of ways, and that they ought to do so likewise.
18 As verse 7.
11Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the 19hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, 20that ye exact of them.
19 They had taken these things from their brethren, contrary to the law, Exod. 22:25; Lev. 25:36; Deut. 23:19.
20 Other, which ye have lent them.
12Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the 21priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
21 To take the oath of them, or, to be witnesses thereof, and by their presence to oblige the more their consciences in the sight of God. See Num. 5:19; 1 Kings 8:31, 32.
13Also I 22shook my 23lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his 24labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, 25Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
22 A ceremony with an oath and curse used in those times.
23 Other, my arm, that is, my sleeve. Or, I shook out my mantle, stretching out mine arm at the same time.
24 That is, from his estate and means, which he may have gotten by his labors.
25 See Num. 5 on verse 22.
14¶Moreover from the time that I was 26appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of 27Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the 28bread of the governor.
26 Namely, by king Artaxerxes, or God by the king.
27 See Ezra 6 on verse 14.
28 That is, the maintenance which the king allowed the governors, and I as well as my predecessors might have enjoyed.
15But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, 29beside forty 30shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
29 Or, after that, in addition to.
30 Namely, for each day. Of shekels see Gen. 20 on verse 16.
16Yea, also I continued in the 31work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were 32gathered thither unto the work.
31 As chapter 4 throughout.
32 The one half to labor in the work, and the other half to watch in arms. See Neh. 4:16.
17Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that 33came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
33 To attend the worship of God, or to bring us the needful advices.
18Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice 34sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store 35of 36all sorts of wine: yet for 37all this required not I the 38bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
34 Comprehended among them, goats.
35 Understand therewith: there was provision made, or, they filled about on the tenth day wine without measure, whereas at other times they gave it ordinarily by measure and in a certain quantity.
36 That is, all kinds.
37 That is, doing thus, notwithstanding I was at such charges and expenses.
38 As verse 14.
19Thinkb upon me, my God, for good, according to 39all that I have done for this people.
b Neh. 13:22.
39 Not because I have thereby deserved anything, but because Thou hast promised graciously and most favorably to reward whatsoever good is done unto Thy people. Compare Neh. 13:22.