Bible Commentaries
Nehemiah 5

Introduction

Overview

Nehemiah 5:1, The Jews complain of their debt, mortgage, and bondage; Nehemiah 5:6, Nehemiah rebukes the usurers, and causes them to make a covenant of restitution; Nehemiah 5:14, He forbears his own allowance, and keeps hospitality.

Verse 1

a great cry: Exodus 3:7, Exodus 22:25-27, Job 31:38, Job 31:39, Job 34:28, Isaiah 5:7, Luke 18:7, James 5:4

their brethren: Leviticus 25:35-37, Deuteronomy 15:7-11, Acts 7:26, 1 Corinthians 6:6-8

Reciprocal: Exodus 21:2 - an Hebrew Deuteronomy 23:19 - General Nehemiah 10:31 - the exaction Job 35:9 - they make Psalms 37:21 - borroweth Psalms 82:4 - rid Proverbs 21:13 - at Ecclesiastes 4:1 - and considered Jeremiah 15:10 - I have Jeremiah 34:8 - to proclaim Lamentations 5:13 - fell Ezekiel 18:8 - hath not Ezekiel 22:12 - thou hast Ezekiel 45:9 - take away Amos 8:6 - General Micah 2:2 - so Luke 6:30 - and 1 Corinthians 7:33 - careth

Verse 2

our sons: Psalms 127:3-5, Psalms 128:2-4, Malachi 2:2

we take up corn: Genesis 41:57, Genesis 42:2, Genesis 43:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:19 - buy us Exodus 22:25 - General Deuteronomy 28:32 - sons 2 Kings 4:1 - the creditor Job 29:12 - I delivered Psalms 15:5 - putteth

Verse 3

mortgaged: Genesis 47:15-25, Leviticus 25:35-39, Deuteronomy 15:7

because: Malachi 3:8-11

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:19 - buy us Nehemiah 5:11 - their lands

Verse 4

the king's tribute: Nehemiah 9:37, Deuteronomy 28:47, Deuteronomy 28:48, Joshua 16:10, 1 Kings 9:21, Ezra 4:13, Ezra 4:20

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:14 - borrow Nehemiah 5:11 - their lands Proverbs 22:7 - the borrower Lamentations 1:1 - how is Matthew 22:17 - is Luke 20:22 - General John 8:33 - and were Romans 13:6 - pay Revelation 18:13 - slaves

Verse 5

our flesh: Genesis 37:27, Isaiah 58:7, James 2:5, James 2:6

we: Exodus 21:1-11, Leviticus 25:39-43, 2 Kings 4:1, Matthew 18:25

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:13 - bought Exodus 21:7 - sell Exodus 21:26 - General Leviticus 25:48 - General Deuteronomy 5:14 - thy manservant Esther 7:4 - But if we Job 24:9 - General Job 31:15 - Did not he Proverbs 22:7 - the borrower Proverbs 29:13 - meet Isaiah 50:1 - or which Ephesians 6:9 - ye Colossians 4:1 - give Revelation 18:13 - slaves

Verse 6

Nehemiah 13:8, Nehemiah 13:25, Exodus 11:8, Numbers 16:15, Mark 3:5, Ephesians 4:26

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 13:11 - contended 2 Corinthians 7:11 - indignation 2 Corinthians 11:29 - and I burn

Verse 7

I consulted with myself: Heb. my heart consulted in me, Psalms 4:4, Psalms 27:8

I rebuked: Leviticus 19:15, 2 Chronicles 19:6, 2 Chronicles 19:7, Psalms 82:1-4, Proverbs 27:5, 2 Corinthians 5:16, Galatians 2:11, 1 Timothy 5:20, Titus 2:15

Ye exact usury: Exodus 22:25, Leviticus 25:36, Deuteronomy 15:2, Deuteronomy 15:3, Deuteronomy 23:19, Deuteronomy 23:20, Deuteronomy 24:10-13, Psalms 15:1, Psalms 15:5, Ezekiel 22:12, Ezekiel 45:9

I set a great assembly: 2 Chronicles 28:9-13, Matthew 18:17

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 5:10 - leave Nehemiah 6:17 - the nobles Nehemiah 13:17 - I contended Job 31:34 - the contempt Psalms 94:16 - stand up Proverbs 24:25 - them Proverbs 28:4 - but Isaiah 33:15 - despiseth Isaiah 58:3 - exact Matthew 18:28 - and took

Verse 8

We after: Matthew 25:15, Matthew 25:29, 2 Corinthians 8:12, Galatians 6:10

redeemed: Leviticus 25:47-49

sell your: Exodus 21:16, Deuteronomy 24:7

shall they: Romans 14:15, 1 Corinthians 8:11

held: Job 29:10, Job 32:15, Matthew 22:12, Romans 3:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:13 - bought Genesis 31:15 - sold us Genesis 37:27 - sell him Exodus 21:2 - an Hebrew Leviticus 25:48 - General Leviticus 25:50 - price of his sale Deuteronomy 28:68 - there ye shall Nehemiah 9:37 - dominion Job 6:23 - Redeem Psalms 44:12 - increase Ecclesiastes 10:19 - but Amos 8:6 - General Zechariah 11:5 - sell Matthew 5:22 - his brother Matthew 18:25 - commanded Acts 11:29 - every 1 Corinthians 6:6 - brother Ephesians 6:9 - ye Revelation 18:13 - slaves

Verse 9

It is not: 1 Samuel 2:24, Proverbs 16:29, Proverbs 17:26, Proverbs 18:5, Proverbs 19:2, Proverbs 24:23

walk: Nehemiah 5:15, Genesis 20:11, Genesis 42:18, Leviticus 25:36, Acts 9:31

reproach: Genesis 13:7, Genesis 13:8, 2 Samuel 12:14, Ezekiel 36:20, Romans 2:24, 1 Timothy 5:14, Titus 2:5, 1 Peter 2:12

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:21 - such as Leviticus 25:17 - fear Deuteronomy 25:18 - feared 1 Samuel 17:26 - reproach 2 Chronicles 13:5 - Ought ye not Psalms 89:41 - he is Proverbs 16:6 - by the 1 Corinthians 6:6 - brother Ephesians 5:21 - in Ephesians 6:9 - ye Colossians 3:22 - fearing Titus 2:8 - that he

Verse 10

I likewise: Micah 2:1, Luke 3:13, Luke 3:14, 1 Corinthians 9:12-18

I pray you: 2 Corinthians 5:11, 2 Corinthians 5:20, 2 Corinthians 6:1, Philemon 1:8, Philemon 1:9

leave: Nehemiah 5:7, Exodus 22:25-27, Psalms 15:5, Ezekiel 18:8, Ezekiel 18:13

Reciprocal: Isaiah 58:6 - to loose Ezekiel 45:9 - remove Matthew 18:28 - and took

Verse 11

Restore: Leviticus 6:4, Leviticus 6:5, 1 Samuel 12:3, 2 Samuel 12:6, Isaiah 58:6, Luke 3:8

their lands: Nehemiah 5:3, Nehemiah 5:4

the hundredth: This was probably the rate of interest which they obliged their poor debtors to pay each month, which would amount to about 12 percent. Another author states that this is the lowest rate of interest in Syria: the usual rate is 20; and it is sometimes as high as 30 percent.

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:25 - General Matthew 18:28 - and took

Verse 12

We will restore: 2 Chronicles 28:14, 2 Chronicles 28:15, Ezra 10:12, Matthew 19:21, Matthew 19:22, Luke 19:8

I called: Nehemiah 10:29, Nehemiah 13:25, 2 Kings 23:2, 2 Kings 23:3, 2 Chronicles 6:22, 2 Chronicles 6:23, 2 Chronicles 15:13, 2 Chronicles 15:14, Ezra 10:5, Jeremiah 34:8-10, Matthew 26:63

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 11:4 - took an oath 2 Kings 11:17 - made a covenant 2 Chronicles 23:16 - made a covenant Matthew 6:12 - as

Verse 13

I shook my lap: So "when the Roman ambassadors entered the senate of Carthage, they had their toga gathered up in their bosom, and said, We carry here peace and war; you may have which you will. The senate answered, You may give which you please. They then shook their toga, and said, We bring you war." - Livy. Matthew 10:14, Acts 13:51, Acts 18:6

So God: 1 Samuel 15:28, 1 Kings 11:29-31, Zechariah 5:3, Zechariah 5:4

emptied: Heb. empty, or void

Amen: Numbers 5:22, Deuteronomy 27:14-26

praised: 1 Chronicles 16:36

the people: 2 Kings 23:3, Psalms 50:14, Psalms 76:11, Psalms 119:106, Ecclesiastes 5:5

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 11:17 - made a covenant 2 Chronicles 15:14 - sware 2 Chronicles 23:16 - made a covenant Nehemiah 8:6 - Amen Nehemiah 10:29 - entered Nehemiah 13:25 - cursed Proverbs 21:13 - at Matthew 6:12 - as Mark 6:11 - whosoever Luke 9:5 - shake Revelation 19:4 - Amen

Verse 14

from the twentieth: Nehemiah 2:1, Nehemiah 13:6

I and my: 1 Corinthians 9:4-15, 1 Corinthians 9:18, 2 Thessalonians 3:8, 2 Thessalonians 3:9

the bread: Ezra 4:13, Ezra 4:14, Romans 13:6, Romans 13:7

Reciprocal: Judges 8:29 - in his own house 2 Samuel 23:3 - ruling Nehemiah 2:6 - I set him a time Nehemiah 5:18 - required Haggai 1:1 - governor Matthew 25:16 - went John 8:14 - yet 2 Corinthians 12:18 - in the same steps

Verse 15

even their: 1 Samuel 2:15-17, 1 Samuel 8:15, Proverbs 29:12

so did: Matthew 5:47, 2 Corinthians 11:9, 2 Corinthians 12:13

because: Nehemiah 5:9, Job 31:23, Psalms 112:1, Psalms 147:11, Proverbs 16:6, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Ecclesiastes 12:14, Isaiah 50:10, Luke 18:2-4

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:11 - Surely Genesis 22:12 - now Genesis 39:9 - sin Genesis 42:18 - I fear God Exodus 1:17 - feared God Exodus 20:20 - his fear Leviticus 19:14 - fear Leviticus 25:17 - fear Leviticus 25:36 - fear Deuteronomy 25:18 - feared Judges 8:29 - in his own house 1 Samuel 2:16 - I will take 1 Kings 18:3 - feared the Lord 2 Chronicles 19:7 - let the Nehemiah 4:16 - my servants Nehemiah 5:18 - required Nehemiah 7:2 - feared God Job 1:8 - one Psalms 19:9 - The fear Psalms 26:11 - I will Psalms 119:161 - my heart Proverbs 3:7 - fear Proverbs 14:16 - feareth Proverbs 28:16 - prince Lamentations 5:8 - Servants Ezekiel 18:8 - hath withdrawn Zephaniah 1:9 - which Malachi 3:5 - fear Acts 9:31 - and walking Ephesians 5:21 - in Colossians 3:22 - fearing 1 Thessalonians 2:9 - chargeable

Verse 16

I continued: Luke 8:15, Romans 2:7, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Galatians 6:9

neither bought: Numbers 16:15, Acts 20:33-35, 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 1 Thessalonians 2:6

all my: 2 Corinthians 12:16-18, Philippians 2:20, Philippians 2:21

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 4:16 - my servants Nehemiah 4:23 - So neither I

Verse 17

Moreover: He kept open house, and entertained all comers; besides having 150; Jews, who had their food constantly at his table, and at his expense.

at my table: 2 Samuel 9:7, 2 Samuel 9:13, 1 Kings 18:19

an hundred: Isaiah 32:8, Romans 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9, 1 Peter 4:10

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 4:23 - Ten fat Ecclesiastes 5:11 - they Isaiah 3:7 - neither bread

Verse 18

Now that: 1 Kings 4:22, 1 Kings 4:23

one ox: This was food sufficient for more than two hundred men. Bp. Pococke says that the bey of Tunis had daily twelve sheep, with fish and fowls, soups, oranges, eggs, onions, boiled rice, etc., etc. His nobles dined with him; after they had done, the servants sat down; and when they had finished, the poor took what was left. Here the bey's twelve sheep are equal to Nehemiah's one ox and six choice sheep; and probably the mode of living between the two was nearly alike. It is still the practice in the East to calculate the expenses of the table, not by the money paid, but by the provisions consumed by the guests.

required: Nehemiah 5:14, Nehemiah 5:15

because the bondage: Psalms 37:21, Psalms 37:26

Reciprocal: Ecclesiastes 5:11 - they Isaiah 3:7 - neither bread 1 Thessalonians 2:9 - chargeable

Verse 19

Think: Nehemiah 13:14, Nehemiah 13:22, Nehemiah 13:31, Genesis 40:14, Psalms 25:6, Psalms 25:7, Psalms 40:17, Psalms 106:4, Jeremiah 29:11

according to: Psalms 18:23-25, Matthew 10:42, Matthew 25:34-40, Mark 9:41

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 20:3 - remember Nehemiah 6:14 - My God Nehemiah 7:5 - my God Psalms 119:159 - Consider Isaiah 38:3 - Remember Jeremiah 15:15 - remember Jeremiah 24:6 - For I will Hosea 9:17 - My God Philippians 4:19 - God 2 Timothy 1:16 - Lord Hebrews 6:10 - to forget