Nehemiah 5
DOYLYChap. VI. ver. 2. — in the plain of Ono.] A place in the tribe of Benjamin, chap. xi. 35; 1 Chron. viii. 12. Bp. Patrick.
Nehemiah 5:5
- — with an open letter in his hand;] As if the contents were known to every body, and required no sort of secrecy. Pyle. Or perhaps the circumstance of the letter being sent “open” is mentioned as having been an affront offered to Nehemiah by Sanballat; being an omission of good manners, since letters in the East are always sent carefully enclosed; having also a tendency to influence the populace against him, by attributing treason to him as governour; and being perhaps also a mode of avoiding the addressing Nehemiah as governour, and thereby acknowledging his dignity and office. Fragments to Calmet.
It appears from Norden, that it is customary in modern times in those countries to send letters to common people open: but it is not according to their usage to send them so to persons of distinction. Bishop Pocock gives us in one of his plates the figure of a Turkish letter, put into a satin bag, to be sent to a great man, with a paper tied to it directed and sealed, and an ivory button tied on the wax. Nehemiah, being a person of distinction in the Persian court, and then governour of Judea, had reason to expect this ceremony from Sanballat: and the omission of it was perhaps the greater insult, as insinuating that, though Nehemiah was, according to him, preparing to assume the royal dignity, he should be so far from acknowledging him in that character, that he would not even pay him the compliment due to every person of distinction. Sir John Chardin gives a like account of the Eastern letters. Script. illust.
Nehemiah 5:11
- — also the hundredth part of the money.] By the “hundredth part” is meant a particular sort of usury practised in those countries, and afterwards among the Romans. It signifies, that the hundredth part of the sum lent was to be paid as interest, every month; that is, in modern expression, an interest of one per cent. every month, or of twelve per cent. every year. Bp. Patrick, Dean Prideaux.
Respecting these same countries in modern times, we are informed, that “nothing is more destructive to Syria than the shameful and excessive usury customary there. When the peasants are in want of money to purchase grain, cattle, &c. they can find none but by mortgaging the whole or part of their future crop greatly under its value. The danger of suffering money to appear, closes the hand of all by whom it is possessed;
the people did according to this promise.
Nehemiah 5:13
- Also I shook my lap, and said, &c.] I made use of the common ceremony of ruffling and shaking the lap of my garment, in detestation of the crimes I had been representing to them; at the same time declaring, denouncing, and even praying to God that He would in like manner punish and confound every one of them in his fortune and estate, who did not perform his word in forsaking such practices. Pyle.
Nehemiah 5:14
- — I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.] I and my family have not taken that allowance which was appointed for the governor: so that, though I held the office, I forbore to take the maintenance allotted to it, both of money and provision, in favour of the people, and from respect to the common good. Bp. Hall.
This conduct of Nehemiah deserves our most serious attention. During the twelve years that he was governor of Jerusalem, he would not insist upon the rights of his office, nor suffer his servants, and those that were under him, to oppress any, but gave up his own dues, that he might not bring a burden upon the people in that troublesome time; he gave even part of his own substance to supply the necessities of the publick, and relieve private persons: all which he did, as he himself observed, because he feared God. This was a noble example of equity, piety, and disinterestedness, well worthy to be imitated; and this shews, how averse we ought to be from oppression and injustice, since, in case of necessity we ought to give of our own, and even to dispense with our right. The faithful discharge of these duties fills the mind with great confidence towards God, and enables a man to say, as Nehemiah said, with so much faith and piety, “Think upon me, my God, for good.” Ostervald.
Nehemiah 5:15
- — beside forty shekels of silver;] He probably means forty shekels of silver every day, to make provision of other things at his table. Bp. Patrick. The words will admit of being translated, “And had taken
Before CHRIST 443. Sanballat practiseth by hired prophecies,
Table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
Nehemiah 5:19
- Think upon me, my God.] There is no reason for us to think that Nehemiah extols himself and his own worthy acts too much; for what he says is nothing more than was necessary in such a state of things, that posterity might be furnished with an excellent example of extraordinary virtue. Bp. Patrick.
Nehemiah, it will be seen, frequently in this book (chap. xiii. 14, 22, 31.) prays to God not to wipe out the good deeds which he had done; this he does, rather in pious supplication to be remembered on that account, than in any arrogance of heart. To have concealed the actions of his government, would have been inconsistent with the office of a faithful historian, and would have deprived posterity of an excellent example. The sacred writers, conscious of their own dignity, are equally superior to disguise or vanity. They record their own virtues and their own failings with equal sincerity. Dr. Gray. Nehemiah, having happily delivered his people from a domestic captivity, commends his service to the gracious remuneration of the Almighty. Had he taken a temporary recompense, both he and it would have been forgotten: now he has made a happy change for eternity, not that he pleads his merit, but sues for mercy; neither does he pray to be remembered for his work, but according to his work. Our good deeds, as they are well accepted of God, so they shall not go unrewarded; and what God will give, why may not we ask? Doubtless, as we may offer up our honest obedience to God, so we may expect and beg His promised retributions; not out of a proud conceit of the worth of our earnings, since we are at the best but unprofitable servants, but from a faithful dependence on Him, who cannot be less than His word. O God, if we do ought that is good, it is Thine act and not ours; crown Thine own work in