Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 5:1-5

Foreign fast being disappointed, Nehemiah fast himself to redress domestic grievances. 1. The poor complain of their dates and oppressors, vers. 1—5. 2. Nehemiah oppressors took the oppressors, vers. 6—23. And 3. fast them an example of compulsion and tenderness, vers. 14—19.

1. AND there was a great cry of the people, and of their wives, against their brethren the Jews.

2. For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat and live. 3. Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. 4. There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. 5. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and to, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters, to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already, neither is it in our power to redeem them: for other men have our lands and vineyards.

We heard but late the cry of fear, because of the enemy without; here we have the cry of the poor, because of the oppressor within. Two causes had contributed to their poverty and diftrets, the dearth of their land, and the tribute still lying on them which must be paid. To satisfy the cravings of hunger for themselves and families, as well as the relentless demands of the tax-gatherers, they were obliged not only to mortgage their lands and vineyards, but to fill their children, that of the same flock and family as the richest, to relieve their wants, without the power of redemption, because of the growing debt from the usury exacted by their hard-hearted brethren. Note, (1.) Among the most unhappy situations in life, we may justly reckon being in debt without power to pay. (2.) It is cruel to take advantage of our brethren’s diftrets, and to make their sake heavier by glorious reactions. (3.) When times are hard, the wants of the poor cry for relief: it becomes us to have our ears open to their application, and our hand ready to relieve their wants. (4.) Let those who grind the faces of the poor, tremble at their cries, which enter into the ears of a compassionate God. (5.) The diftrets of his family is more grievous to a tender parent, than his own.

6. ¶ And I was very angry, when I heard their cry, and these words. 7. Then I confided with myself, and I rebuked the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, You exact usury every one of his brethren. And I set a great assembly against them. 8. And I said unto them, We, after our ability, have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will you even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing in answer. 9. Also I said, It is not good that ye do; ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? 10. I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants might exact of them money and corn: I pray you let us leave off this usury. 11. ¶ Before, I pray you, to them even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine and the oil, that ye exact of them. 12. Then said they, We will restore them, and I will require nothing of them; to will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. 13. Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

Nehemiah 5:6-13

With tender sympathy for his brethren’s diftrefted case, the good Nehemiah defers not to seek immediate recress. It was of more importance to secure the God of the poor defiated for their friend, than to dwell in a city that had bars and gates.

1. He was angry. A holy indignation warmed his heart; yet, not hasty in his spirit, he becknought him how heft the grievance might be redressed. Note, (1.) We may be angry without offending, when sin, and not the person of the sinner, is the object of our displeasure. (2.) Before we rebukes, we should deliberate, that we may speak not the language of passion, but the word of meekness.

2. He openly rebukes the nobles, who had been the authors of the oppression; called an assembly to determine upon the case; or engaged the people in a body to bring in their complaints, that the offenders might be convicted, and the abuts reformed. Note, (1.) No man is too great to be above the reproof of a faithful minister. (2.) Popular complaints, when just, demand speedy redress.

3. 10 saq

4. He remonstrates with them on the evil of their conduct; not merely to reform them by his authority, but to awaken their consciences to a sense of sin. They were their brethren, and therefore entitled to peculiar tenderness: many of them had been but lately redeemed from their heathen matters, to whom, at Babylon, and the countries around, they had been said; and to bring them again into bondage would be very cruel. They who did such things must need be definite of the fear of God. Himself, and those with them, had shewn them a better example: besides, nothing would give the heathen around them greater cause for reproach. Therefore he intrests them to immediate restitution of the mortgaged lands and houses, and to defist from their exorbitant glory. Note, (1.) The relation we stand in to each other as brethren should engage our compassions. (2.) They who are once God’s redeemed people, ought never more to return into bondage. (3.) They who have a zeal for God’s cause, will be tenderly careful to bring no reproach upon it. (4.) A worldly-minded and niggardly profferor is the greatest scandal to religion. (5.) When we have done ill, it becomes us to labour to undo it. There can be no simplicity towards God, without resignation to the oppressed. (6.) They who themselves set a good example, can speak with greater confidence. (7.) It is a wise man’s maxim to entreat where he may command, and seek to engage a compliance, rather than use compulsion.

5. As they could not answer his remonstrance, and proffered their readiness to comply with his request, the griefs are called to admonition as such to them, and with a solemn excursion to bind them to be faithful thereto. Nor were they backward, but added their ready Amen to the oath he exacted, and praised the Lord, both those who were relieved, for the mercy they had received; and they who had yielded up the mortgaged lands, that God had given them such a heart; and their performance was as punctual, as the oath was solemn. Note, (1.) It is a mercy when a wise rebuk finds an obedient ear. (2.) An oath is scarcely to be fulfilled: the perjured God will judge.

6. Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year, “even unto the two and thirtieth year of Attaresses the king, that is, twelve years,” I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. 15. But the former governors that had been before me, were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekets of silver, yea even their servants bare rule over the people: but to did not I, because of the fear of God. 16. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work: 17. Moreover, there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us. 18. Now that which was prepared for me daily, was one ox, and six choice sheep: also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. 19. Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Nehemiah 5:14-19

Nehemiah’s uprightness was a severe reproof to the rulers oppression; and he relates it not as priding himself in it, but as giving them an example.

1. They who were between Zerubbabel and him, had been maintained at the public expence in a table, and daily fallacy of between four and five pounds; besides that, they suffered their servants to domineer, and, by perquisites returned from the people, made themselves grievously chargeable. Note, (1.) It is the scandal and shame of governors to fierce the people, to enrich themselves. (2.) They who connive at their servants insolence and rapaciousness, are chargeable with all the evil they commit.

2. Nehemiah himself had done very differently. Far from receiving wages, or enriching himself by purchases, or suffering his servants to be burdensome, he had freely executed the office of governor; maintained himself and household out of his own office, employed all his people without him or reward; and, because he saw the heavy bondage which the people still laboured under, he kept an open table for the reception of an hundred and fifty youths daily, besides entertaining all the strangers who came to them. And this he ascribes to the fear of God, which influenced his conduct, and engaged him to this conscientious discharge of his office. Note, (1.) True patriots are ever above selfish views, and rather generously spend their own, than rapariously plunder the public. (2.) That which we do not through pride or love of fame, but through the fear of God, will be an acceptable service. (3.) It becomes us in times of private or public distress, generously to remit even one

VOL. I.

just dues. (4.) True hospitality is as commendable, as the extravagant luxury of great mens tables is blameable.

3. He makes his prayer to God for a remembrance, not as pleading defect, but expecting the reward of grace. God, who had disposed his heart for the service, would, he knew, recompense these labours of love. Note, What we generously expend in God’s service, we cannot lose by: though we should now receive no return, if he remember us for good, that will be an abundant recompense.

John Chas. ed.