Nehemiah 5

The people complaineth of oppression by reason of usury, and pawns, vers.1. etc. Nehemia is exceedingly troubled threat, reproveth the great ones, convinceth them, and causeth them to promise and swear, that they will desist and cease from it, 6. Relateth his own example; and how that he, not with standing the great charges he was at in keeping of court, yet never had required the Governor right or allowance, that he might not be burdensome to the Commonalty, 14.

1. But the cry of the people, and of their wives was great; against their brethren the jews. [Understand for the most part, the rich and mighty ones, who by usury and pawns, drained out and oppressed the common sort of people, as followeth.]

2. For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughetsr, we are many: Therefore we have taken up corn that we might eat and live. [Oth. Let us take up corn, that we may, etc.]

3. There were also that said, We morgage our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, that we may take up corn in this famine. [This deareth and distress of the people may partly have risen from thence, that all the while this building lasted, they were constrained to omit and 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.]

4. Likewise there were that said; We have borrowed money for the kings tribute; [That we might pay it. See thereof Ezra 4:13. from this were onely the Priests, Levites, and other ministers of the Temple exempted, Ezra 7:24.] (upon) our fields and our vineyards.

5. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, [That is, we are in Gods account as much as they; for we are Abrahams seed, and in covenant with God, as well as they] our children are their children; and lo, we subject our sons and our daughters (to be) bond-men; [Understand withal, and bond-women] yea, there be some of our daughters subject, (so) that they are not in the power of our hands; and others have our fields, and our vineyards. [Oth. and it is not in the power of our hands (to redeem them) for others have, etc.]

6. Now when I heard their cry, and those words, I was kindled greatly. [Hebr. To me kindled greatly, to wit, anger.]

7. And my heart consulted in me; then I contended with the Nobles, [Hebr. White ones. See above chap.2.on verse 16.] and with the Rulers, and said unto them; Ye exact [or, impose, wring from, exort] a burden [Understand by this burden, usury, and the morgaging or pawning of goods and men] every one of his brother: [Oth. the land, every one unto his brother (with a) burden; and so in the sequel] moreover, I laid a great assembly, [Hebr. Properly I gave; that is, I appointed a great assembly] against them.

8. And I said unto them, we, after our ability, [Heb. after the sufficiency (that was) in, or by or under us; that is, as much as lay in our power] have redeemed our brethren the jews, [See Levit.25.47,48,49.] that were sold unto the heathen: [This peradventure, was done by the Babylonians] and would ye also sell your brethren, or should they be sold unto us? Then they held their peace, and found no answer.

9. I said moreover, the thing is not good which ye do, Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the heathen, our enemies? [That is, that ye may not give occasion to the heathen, that are both Gods 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.]

10. I, my brethren, and my youths, do we also exact, [See on verse 7.] money and corn of them? [Nehemia doth intimate in these words, that he favoured the communalty all manner of ways, and that they ought to do so too] I pray let us leave off this burden. [As above verse 7.]

11. Restore, I pray you, to them this day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive-yards, and their houses; and the hundredth (part) of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil which ye have exacted of them. [They had taken these things from their brethren, contrary to the law, Exod.22.25. Levit.25.36. Deut.23.19. Oth. which ye have lent them.]

12. Then said they, We will restore it, and require nothing of them, we will do so as thou sayest: and I called the priests, [To take the oath of them, or, to be witnesses thereof, and by their presence to oblige their consciences the more in the sight of God. See 1 Kings 8:31,32. Num.5.19.] and made them swear, that they would do according to this word.

13. Also I shook out my lap, [Oth. mine arm; that is, my sleeve, or I shook out my mantle, putting out mine arm all under one. This was a kind of ceremony that was used in those times in, or with an oath or curse,] and said, So God shake out all (or every) man from his house, and from his labour, [that is, from his estate, and from his labour, [That is, from his estate, and means, which he, (it may be) hath gotten by his labour] that shall not confirm this word, and thus be he shaken out, and empty: and all the congregation said, Amen. [See Numb.5.on verse 22.] and they praised the LORD, and the people did according to this word.

14. Also from that day that he [To wit, King Arthahsasta, or God by the King,] appointed me to be their Governor in the land of Juda, from the twentieth year of King Arthahsasta, [See Ezra 6.on verse 14.] being twelve years, I with my brethren have not eaten the bread of the Governor. [That is, the maintenance which the king allowed the Governors, and I as well as my predecessors might have enjoyed.]

15. And the former Governors, that had been before me, were chargeable unto the people, and took of them in bread and wine, after that, moreover besides fourty shekels of silver; [To wit, for every day. Of shekels, see Gen.20.on verse 16.] also their youths bare sway over the people; But so did not I, because of the fear of God.

16. Moreover; I also repaired [As above chap.4. throughout] at the work of this wall, neither bought we any land, and all my youths were gathered thither unto the work, [The one half to labour in the work, and the other half to watch in arms. See ab.chap.4.16.]

17. Also (there) were at my table an hundred and fifty men of the jews, and of the Rulers, and those that came unto us from the heathen that are round about us. [To wit, to dwell nigh the worship of God, or bring us needful advertisement, or good intelligence.]

18. And that which was prepared for one day, was one ox, and six choice sheep; [Goats comprehended under them] also fowls were prepared for me, and within ten days of all [that is, all sorts of] wine very much; [Understand withal, there was provision made: or they filled about on the tenth day, the wine without measure, whereas at other times they gave it ordinarily by measure and in a certain quantity or stint] yet for all this [that is, doing thus, not with standing I was at such charges and expences] required not I the bread of the Governor, [As above verse 14.] because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

19. Remember me, my God for good, all that I have done unto this people. [Not because I have thereby deserved any thing, but because thou hast promised graciously and most favourably to reward what so ever good is done unto thy people. Compare chapter 13. Verse 22.]