Bible Commentaries
Nehemiah 5

Introduction

Nehemiah Chapter 5

Nehemiah 5:1 "And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews."

In the last lesson, we saw that The Ammonites, Samaritans, and some of the Arabians had threatened war, if they Jews did not stop the building of the wall. We, also, discovered they were on call 24 hours a day. They did not even take off their clothes to sleep. They had to stay prepared for war. From sunrise to sunset, half of the people worked on the wall with their swords strapped to their sides. The other half stood guard. We can see how this could become a problem, and how the wives would complain.

Nehemiah 5:2 "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."

Nehemiah 5:3 "[Some] also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth."

We can easily see that the larger the family was, the more corn it would take to feed them. If the breadwinner had to work an extended length of time on the wall and could not provide for his family, it would cause great hardship. There had been a famine in the past, which had caused many of them to mortgage their homes and their land. It would be impossible to pay a mortgage off, if you had no funds coming in.

Nehemiah 5:4 "There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, [and that upon] our lands and vineyards."

They had been paying tribute to the king of Persia. Even though he released them to come to their homeland, he did not let them come without them paying tribute. Judaea was like all of the other countries that Persia had controlled. They all had to pay tribute. They must get back to making money, so they could pay their bills.

Nehemiah 5:5 "Yet now our flesh [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 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."

This was a tragic situation, when the creditors put family members of those in debt in bondage. At the time this was written, people who could not pay their debts became the slaves of those they owed. Many times, a father would sell a daughter and try to keep the rest of the family together. They loved their children as much as the wealthy people loved their children, they just could not pay their debts and these were the results.

Nehemiah 5:6 "And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words."

The Hebrews were supposed to be considerate of their poorer brethren, and they were to be very lenient in such situations. It appears, the anger of Nehemiah was against those who were taking advantage of this situation.

Nehemiah 5:7 "Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them."

"I consulted with myself" means that he thought about the situation. After he thought it out, he rebuked the nobles and the rulers for taking usury which was against the law of Moses. The nobles and rulers seemed not to heed to Nehemiah’s rebuke, and he went to the people.

Nehemiah 5:8 "And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold 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]."

Nehemiah and his family had been redeeming other Jews who had been enslaved. These rich nobles and rulers could do the same, if they would. They were all Hebrews and should act as brothers helping one another. They had no good answer to give Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 5:9 "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?"

Nehemiah had tried to shame them into doing the right thing, and they would not. Now, he reminds them that God knows exactly what they were doing. He reminded them that their brother Hebrews were not their enemies, and they were treating them as strangers. God would not like this.

Nehemiah 5:10 "I likewise, [and] my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury."

It was against God’s law for them to collect usury. He was insisting that they stop taking their brethren’s living as a pledge. The law of God did not even allow a person to take someone’s coat that he was wearing for pledge. This was worse.

Nehemiah 5:11 "Restore, 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."

Nehemiah told them to restore all of the land and houses they had confiscated. He commanded them to even give them 1/10 of their money back. They were even to give them food back that they had taken.

Nehemiah 5:12 "Then said they, We will restore [them], and will require nothing of them; so 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."

They agreed to do exactly as Nehemiah commanded them. Nehemiah wanted to make sure they would keep their word, and he had them to take an oath in front of the priests. They would be afraid to break an oath they made to God.

Nehemiah 5:13 "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 gave them a vivid example that God would banish them, if they did not keep their word. The entire congregation agreed to the punishment, if they did not keep their word. "Amen" means so be it. The praise was to God for the problem being solved. The people kept this serious oath they had made.

Nehemiah 5:14 "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 Artaxerxes the king, [that is], twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor."

Nehemiah had taken a leave of absence from being the cupbearer of Artaxerxes. Nehemiah returned to the Persian king at the end of the 12 years. Nehemiah had not eaten of the people, as most of the governors did. He had supported himself.

Nehemiah 5:15 "But the former governors that [had been] before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God."

This was explaining that Nehemiah served as their governor without taking tribute for himself from the people. Nehemiah was serving the LORD the way he felt the LORD would have him serve. He was not governor to make money. He was governor to build the wall of Jerusalem. God had given him this task as his service to the LORD.

Nehemiah 5:16 "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."

Nehemiah had set the example for all the others, when he and his servants worked on the wall without pay. He did not try to take advantage of his poor brothers, and buy up their land cheap. He was there for one purpose, and that was to build the wall.

Nehemiah 5:17 "Moreover [there were] at my 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 was explaining the vast number of people he had to feed each day. These were daily, but they could, probably, be compared to business meetings today. A large number of these people were the rulers and Jews. Perhaps, they discussed the building of the wall at these times.

Nehemiah 5:18 "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."

We are not told exactly where the funds came from for Nehemiah to acquire these things. We do know, it did not come from the people he ruled over as governor.

Nehemiah 5:19 "Think upon me, my God, for good, [according] to all that I have done for this people."

Some of the preceding Scriptures were spoken to God, as well as the people. Nehemiah was just explaining to God that he did his very best. I do not believe Nehemiah was wanting fame, or fortune. His greatest desire was that he would do the task that God placed before him to the best of his ability.

Nehemiah 5 Questions

1. Who cried out against the Jews?

2. What were the conditions we studied in the last lesson, that might cause this?

3. Who were having the hardest time feeding their families?

4. In verse 3, what drastic measures had they taken to keep going?

5. They had _____________ money to pay the king’s tribute.

6. Which king had they been paying tribute to?

7. They had ____________ their daughters to pay their debts?

8. When Nehemiah heard their cries, how did it affect him?

9. Nehemiah’s anger was against whom?

10. What was meant by "I consulted with myself"?

11. Who did Nehemiah rebuke?

12. What had Nehemiah been doing, that would have been an example for the others to do?

13. When they did not change when Nehemiah tried to shame them, what did he tell them?

14. Quote Nehemiah Nehemiah 5:10.

15. What did Nehemiah tell them to restore to the people?

16. What was their answer?

17. What did Nehemiah have them to do, to ensure that they would keep their word?

18. What threat did he tell them of, if they did not keep their word?

19. How long was Nehemiah governor?

20. How had Nehemiah lived?

21. What did the other governors before him charge the people?

22. Who did he supply to work on the wall?

23. Who ate at his table?

24. What was the daily amount of food used?

25. Quote Nehemiah 5:19.

Verses 1-5

Neh 5:1-5

Introduction

NEHEMIAH’S HANDLING OF A SEVERE SOCIAL CRISIS

There are conflicting views of reputable scholars regarding the nature of this chapter. Whitcomb labeled it "parenthetical"; but Williamson divided the chapter into two sections, making Nehemiah 5:1-13 a description of a crisis that came during the building of the wall, but admitting the rest of the chapter as a later parenthetical addition. Of the first section he wrote that, "The wives ... were more conscious of the approaching calamity, because they were having to manage at home while their husbands were engrossed in the wall-building."

There are a number of reasons why this writer accepts the viewpoint that the whole chapter is parenthetical and that it was included at this point in Nehemiah’s memoirs for reasons which we believe will appear later in the narrative.

"This parenthetical chapter describes how Nehemiah succeeded in stopping the practice of usury, which resulted in extreme poverty and even bondage for many Jews. There is also a record here of Nehemiah’s example of unselfishness and generosity during his twelve years as governor."

It seems to this writer that Nehemiah might well have included this chapter just here as an advance glimpse of the evil nobles who, along with the priests, would eventually vigorously oppose Nehemiah’s reforms.

Nehemiah 5:1-5

A MAJOR SOCIAL CRISIS CONFRONTS NEHEMIAH

"Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain that we may eat and live. Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the dearth. There were also those that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute upon our fields and our vineyards. Yet now our flesh 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 servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already: neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards."

There are three classes of protesters here: "These were (1) the landless who were desperately short of food (Nehemiah 5:2), (2) the landowners who, because of famine had been compelled to mortgage their properties (Nehemiah 5:3), and (3) those who had been forced to borrow money at exorbitant rates to meet the Persian king’s property taxes (Nehemiah 5:4)."

Man’s inhumanity to man is tragically visible in the sad circumstances that precipitated this uprising of the people.

There are also three causes of the situation, as enumerated by Rawlinson. "These were over-population (Nehemiah 5:2), recent famine (Nehemiah 5:3), and heavy taxation (Nehemiah 5:4)."

"Because of the dearth" (Nehemiah 5:3). "Dearth is the usual word for famine, as in Genesis 12:10, and in many other places."

One reason for accepting this chapter as a record of events unrelated to the wall-building, is this mention here of a widespread shortage of food, due to famine. There was no hint of such a shortage during the building of the wall; besides that, "The wall-building did not take long enough (less than two months) to cause widespread suffering."

"For other men have our fields and our vineyards" (Nehemiah 5:5). Keil explained the tragic significance of these words: "Since our fields and vineyards belong to others, what they produce does not come to us, and we are not in a position to be able to put an end to the sad necessity of selling our sons and our daughters for servants."

E.M. Zerr:

Nehemiah 5:1-2. We take up means they needed corn for their children. They complained that the need was urgent because there were many of them. For this great need they were crying to Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 5:3. Some of the people claimed they had to mortgage their properties because of the shortage, to get food for their families.

Nehemiah 5:4. Still others complained that they could not pay the tax required by the king, until they borrowed money. And the loan had to be secured by their land and vineyards, the very sources of their living.

Nehemiah 5:5. The poorer Jews were being thus oppressed by their more fortunate brethren. They protested having their children, which they called their own flesh, to be placed at the mercy of their brethren. They insisted, and with truth, that the flesh or bodies of them and their children was just the same as that of their more fortunate brethren, as far as value was concerned. They declared that their plight was not to be helped, on account of the hold the lenders had on them.

Verses 6-13

Neh 5:6-13

Nehemiah 5:6-13

NEHEMIAH MOVED QUICKLY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM

"And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself and contended with the rulers and the nobles, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that were sold unto the nations; and would ye even sell your brethren, and should they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and said never a word. Also I said, The thing that ye do is not good: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies? And likewise, my brethren and my servants, do lend them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest. Then I called the priests and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise. Also, I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out and emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen, and praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise."

"I was very angry when I heard these words" (Nehemiah 5:6). Nehemiah restrained his anger, very wisely, and by his skillful handling to the situation, "He avoided personally alienating the rulers and nobles, who after all were the leaders of the community, and the men upon whom he relied for the support of his administration."

"Then I consulted with myself" (Nehemiah 5:7). This means that Nehemiah disciplined himself in the control of his anger. He carefully laid the plans by which he would put an end to their abuses.

"Ye exact usury, every man of his brother" (Nehemiah 5:7). This was a heartless violation of God’s law (Exodus 22:25), which forbade God’s people to charge interest on any loan to a brother Israelite. "He reminded the rulers and nobles that his own conduct had been the opposite of theirs; and that when he had seen Jewish slaves offered for sale in Gentile markets, he would pay the ransom price and give them their liberty. But those nobles and rulers were Selling their poverty-stricken fellow Jews to heathen masters, knowing that Nehemiah would buy them back." That procedure, obviously, amounted to their selling their brethren to Nehemiah, as indicated by the terse words in Nehemiah 5:8, And should they be sold unto us?

"Would ye even sell your brethren" (Nehemiah 5:8)? It was against the Law of God for an Israelite to sell even a servant as a bondman, much less a brother (Leviticus 25:42). It is apparent that Nehemiah’s inclusion of this episode parenthetically at this point in his book was due to his purpose of exposing the character of the rulers and nobles as an advance explanation of trouble he would have with them later.

"They held their peace, and found never a word" (Nehemiah 5:8). Nehemiah had completely checkmated any public opposition by the rulers and nobles by his confronting them before a general assembly of the whole population. They had no excuse whatever for their wholesale violations of the Mosaic Law. Their own consciences condemned them. "And I likewise, my brethren and my servants do lend them money and grain" (Nehemiah 5:10). Nehemiah said nothing at all here about charging interest on such loans; and this writer does not believe that he was guilty of violating the Moasic instructions against such charges. If Nehemiah had been charging his brethren usury, why would he have been so angry with the nobles and rulers for doing so? The scholars who make the word likewise in this verse prove that Nehemiah was a usurer are in error.

"Let us leave off this usury" (Nehemiah 5:10). Ah! But does not this clause prove that Nehemiah was doing the same thing? Williamson so understood it, "Nehemiah here candidly admits having been involved in these same practices." No! This was merely a tactful identification of himself with the violators, in order to promote good will and to avoid antagonism; and this is by no means the only example of a Biblical writer’s using that very same device for the sake of avoiding unnecessary bitterness. "Ezra identified himself with the marriage offenders (Ezra 9:6) although he had not contracted an illicit marriage." Did not the apostle Paul write:

"Let US press on ... not laying again a foundation of repentance, ... and this will WE do, if God permit “(Hebrews 6:1; Hebrews 6:3)?

In this passage, Paul used the first person plural twice (capitalized words in passage above); but he was not confessing that he himself was guilty of the same errors he was attempting to correct in the recipients of his letter. In the same manner, here, Nehemiah’s use of the first person plural was not a confession that he was the same kind of heartless usurer as the rulers and nobles.

"Restore unto them their fields ... the hundredth part of the money ... and of the grain, ..." (Nehemiah 5:11). This was a public request, backed up by the support of the general assembly that all the abuses be ended at once. Several types of oppressing the poor are in evidence in this blanket request. (1) There was the interest charge (a hundredth part of the money. "This was a monthly charge, amounting to 12% a year." (2) Then there were the fields confiscated through foreclosures, and (3) the extravagant rental charges "in kind," the grain, wine, oil, etc.

"Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them" (Nehemiah 5:12). Wonderful! So far, so good. But Nehemiah knew the character of the evil men with whom he was dealing; and he moved at once to "swear them in" to do what they promised to do.

"Then I called the priests and took an oath of them" (Nehemiah 5:12). With honest men, this would have been unnecessary; but Nehemiah moved to thwart any violations of this agreement by swearing them in before the whole assembly.

"I shook out my lap, and said, God so shake out every man ... that performeth not this promise" (Nehemiah 5:13). The `lap’ that Nehemiah shook out was an improvised one, made by gathering up his robe in a fold, and then shaking it out as if he were emptying out things contained in it. This was a symbolical action, as were the deeds of many of the prophets, designed to emphasize their words. It was an appeal that God would drastically and completely punish and remove all violators of the promises they had sworn to honor.

"And the people did according to this promise" (Nehemiah 5:13). Nehemiah’s precautions assured a full compliance with the public promises; and the people were relieved.

E.M. Zerr:

Nehemiah 5:6. Nehemiah was righteously indignant at the heartless treatment of his poor brethren. He felt that no reason existed for their actions.

Nehemiah 5:7. Consulted with myself means that he thought over the subject, to determine what to do and say. He then rebuked the guilty ones and accused them of exacting usury of their brethren. The law forbade taking usury from the brethren (Exodus 22:25), and these nobles were violating that law. Nehemiah then assembled a numerous throng to oppose this cruel disregard for the divine ordinance that had been given from Sinai.

Nehemiah 5:8. Redeemed our brethren. When Nehemiah came back to Palestine he found that some of their brethren had been sold to the heathen. He had managed to buy a great many of them back. Now the Jews were putting their own people into the same kind of reproach through their financial dealings. By taking advantage of their straitened circumstances, they were making slaves of them just as certainly as the heathen had done. When Nehemiah caused them to see their transactions in the true light, they were made speechless, doubtless, from a feeling of shame.

Nehemiah 5:9. It is always right to do right regardless of any other consideration. But an added reason exists in the fact that one’s conduct is observed by the public. The heathen who were in Palestine had known about the close dealings of heartless characters. Now if they behold these Jews mistreating their own brethren, it will cause them to think of their profession of religion with contempt. This idea is taught in the New Testament. See Romans 12:17; Romans 14:16; 2 Co r. 6:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:12.

Nehemiah 5:10. Had it been right to exact payments of food from the people, Nehemiah and his servants would have had much the better claim for such a privilege. He was not doing so, and exhorted them not to do so any more. That is, not to take usury of their brethren for the loans they were making.

Nehemiah 5:11. When a man goes into the commercial or industrial world to make a financial investment, it may be perfectly just. But that does not prove that it is right to make a profit off of those whose bodily needs call for assistance. Nehemiah knew that the whole situation was brought by the sore need of the poor brethren, and not as a legitimate business investment. He therefore bade the creditors restore all the money and properties that had been exacted as security. Verse 12. We cannot but admire the spirit of these creditors. They evidently had not realized the real principle involved in their dealings, for they promptly agreed to do as Nehemiah requested. And to make the matter binding, he called for the priests who had the authority to administer an oath. Under oath the men were caused to promise to carry out the requirements of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 5:13. Shaking his lap was a physical illustration to signify the complete undoing that was to come to all who would break their oath. After the demonstration and comments thereon, the whole congregation voiced approval. We have the gratifying information that the promise was carried out.

Verses 14-19

Neh 5:14-19

Nehemiah 5:14-19

NEHEMIAH’S SUMMARY OF HIS CONDUCT AS GOVERNOR

"Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. 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. Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, a hundred and fifty men, besides those that came unto us from the nations that were round about us. Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days stores of all sorts of wine; yet for all this, I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. Remember unto me, O God, for good, all that I have done for this people."

"That is, twelve years" (Nehemiah 5:14). "These years were 444 to 432 B.C." This verse is clearly retrospective, and from this the usual understanding is that this chapter was written some twelve years after the building of the wall. Shortly before this first term of Nehemiah as governor ended, "He returned to Babylon for a visit." Many scholars have marveled that the "time" set by Nehemiah for his return to Babylon (Nehemiah 2:6) could have included the entire twelve-year term as governor. Evidently, there had been some other arrangement with the king in Babylon that would have extended the time. As Oesterley said, "If more fragments of Nehemiah’s memoirs had been preserved, this would have been explained." This is a wise observation, and it would be encouraging if more scholars took into account the fact that all the difficulties which we find in the Bible would doubtless disappear altogether if we had all the facts.

"I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor" (Nehemiah 5:14). This simply means that Nehemiah and his staff did not accept the usual allotments of food and money that the state provided for governors. He was a truly patriotic soul, much as was George Washington, who during the Revolutionary war built and outfitted three naval ships, at his own expense; and he did not seek a reimbursement after he became president. What a pity that the birthday of a president like that should not be accorded a separate celebration, apart from all others.

"The former governors ... were chargeable unto the people" (Nehemiah 5:15). We agree with Whitcomb that, "These were probably the Persians who did not fear God, and we are sure that the one’s meant by Nehemiah did not include Zerubbabel."

"Those at my table were a hundred and fifty men" (Nehemiah 5:17). "This included his entire staff, and additionally there were Jews from the surrounding area, who as yet had no homes, who ate at his table, and all of this at his own expense. Compare that with the entertainment by Jezebel of 400 prophets of the Asherah `at her table’, besides all of the provisions for their upkeep and livelihood (1 Kings 18:19)." Also Jezebel did that at the expense of the people; and that says nothing of the far greater extravagant expenses of Ahab.

"Besides those that came unto us from the nations that were round about us" (Nehemiah 5:17). This not only meant those who voluntarily elected to return, but it also included those Jews whom the rulers and nobles had sold to the heathen neighbors as slaves, and whom Nehemiah, a wealthy man in his own right, had purchased back and restored to their liberty.

"One ox and six choice sheep" (Nehemiah 5:18). We learned in 1 Kings 4:22-23, that Solomon at his table served thirty oxen and one hundred sheep every day!

"Remember, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people" (Nehemiah 5:19). Naturally, Nehemiah desired that the people would remember what he had done for them; but, "He wanted God to remember too." It is certainly not sinful for a Christian to pray that God will remember the good that he might have done.

E.M. Zerr:

Nehemiah 5:14. This verse gives the information on the time that Nehemiah set under the king in Nehemiah 2:6. He had been made governor over the land of Judah, to act under authority from Artaxerxes. Special provisions were made for whosoever was the acting governor of the country, and Nehemiah could have eaten of them lawfully. But he and his brethren supported themselves through the entire period of 12 years. He considered the straitened circumstances of the people and did not have the heart to take advantage of his rights under the legal setup.

Nehemiah 5:15. Judea (Judah) was a province of the Persian Empire after the fall of Babylon. Such distant units of that vast monarchy had to be under the supervision of local governors, and such officers drew their support from the money raised by taxation. The men who held that position before took advantage of that, and could do so lawfully as far as that was concerned. Nehemiah would have been lawfully entitled to the same privileges, but was so compassionate that he drew on his own private funds in order to relieve the poor people of the burden of taxation. The former governors not only made use of the tax money, but became oppressive in the exercise of their authority, and suffered their own servants to domineer over the people. The fear of God caused Nehemiah to have regard for his fellowman.

Nehemiah 5:16. Neither bought we any land. This means that Nehemiah did not take advantage of the financial straitness of the people. They might have been compelled to sell their land to get their tax money, and Nehemiah could have obtained it under the terms of forced "tax sale," and thus to have enriched himself at the expense of the unfortunate. That would have put him in the class of the heartless characters spoken of by Christ (Matthew 23:14) who would "devour widows’ houses."

Nehemiah 5:17. Nehemiah supported a large number of his own nation, and was so hospitable that many of the foreigners were invited to eat at his table.

Nehemiah 5:18. Prepared for me. The last 2 words are not in the original. This vast amount of food was prepared for Nehemiah and his guests. A question may be in the mind of the student about where he obtained such a great supply of goods if he did not draw on the taxes of the land. We should remember that the Jews had been a free people for about a century. Their service to the king or other ruler was that of "hired servants." Nehemiah had a very high position of employment, in that he was a personal attendant of the king, with the honorable duty of serving him his wine. All the circumstances show that he stood high in the estimation of his royal employer, and it is reasonable to conclude that he received a liberal salary.

Nehemiah 5:19. The prayer of Nehemiah for God’s favor was based upon the good he was doing. That is the way it always has been with man’s relation to the Lord. God is no respecter of persons, but does regard those who do good.