Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 5 describes the internal conflict among the Jews, focusing on the issue of exploitation and financial oppression during the rebuilding of the wall. Many poor Jews were being exploited by their wealthier counterparts through loans, land seizures, and debt slavery. Nehemiah, learning of this, takes decisive action to confront the nobles and rulers, calling them to repent and restore justice. The chapter highlights Nehemiah's leadership and dedication to ensuring fairness and unity among the people.

Nehemiah 5:1-5 (NKJV)
1 And there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their Jewish brethren.
2 For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”
3 There were also some who said, “We have mortgaged our lands and vineyards and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine.”
4 There were also those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our lands and vineyards.
5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and indeed we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into slavery. It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards.”

The people raised a desperate outcry, highlighting the severe poverty and oppression many were experiencing. Some had mortgaged their lands and homes due to famine, while others borrowed money to pay taxes, leading to the enslavement of their children. This created great distress, as they were unable to redeem their lands or children from the rich who held their debts, showing a clear division between the wealthy and poor within the Jewish community.

Nehemiah 5:6 (NKJV)
6 And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.

Nehemiah was deeply troubled by the injustice he witnessed. The outcry of the people stirred righteous anger within him, as he understood that the mistreatment of the poor by their own people went against God’s law. This would lead to his immediate action to address the issue.

Nehemiah 5:7-8 (NKJV)
7 After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, “Each of you is exacting usury from his brother.” So I called a great assembly against them.
8 And I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?” Then they were silenced and found nothing to say.

Nehemiah, after carefully considering the situation, publicly rebuked the nobles and rulers for charging interest on loans to their fellow Jews, which was forbidden under the Law of Moses. He reminded them that they had just returned from exile, having redeemed their brethren from foreign nations, yet now they were enslaving their own people. His rebuke left them speechless, as they were convicted of their wrongdoing.

Nehemiah 5:9 (NKJV)
9 Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?”

Nehemiah challenged the nobles to consider their behavior in light of God’s law and the reputation of the Jewish people among their enemies. By oppressing their own, they not only dishonored God but also gave their enemies reason to mock them. He called for them to live in the fear of God, with justice and righteousness.

Nehemiah 5:10-11 (NKJV)
10 I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury!
11 Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.”

Nehemiah set an example by lending to the poor without charging interest, urging the nobles and rulers to do the same. He commanded them to return the lands, houses, and possessions they had taken and to stop exploiting their fellow Jews. His demand was immediate, seeking to restore fairness and unity among the people.

Nehemiah 5:12 (NKJV)
12 So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say.” Then I called the priests, and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.

The nobles and rulers responded to Nehemiah’s call for justice by agreeing to restore the lands and possessions and to stop exploiting the poor. To ensure their commitment, Nehemiah had them swear an oath before the priests, making their promise a sacred obligation, showing the importance of accountability and faithfulness to God.

Nehemiah 5:13 (NKJV)
13 Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out each man from his house and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. Then the people did according to this promise.

Nehemiah used a symbolic gesture of shaking out his garment to warn them of the consequences of breaking their promise, invoking God’s judgment on those who failed to keep it. The people agreed by saying "Amen" and praised God, committing themselves to fulfill the promise of justice and restoration.

Nehemiah 5:14-15 (NKJV)
14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions.
15 But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

Nehemiah reflects on his time as governor, noting that unlike previous governors, he refused to take the provisions that were his right. The previous leaders had placed heavy burdens on the people and taken additional taxes. Nehemiah, however, refrained from such actions out of reverence for God, demonstrating his integrity and care for the people.

Nehemiah 5:16 (NKJV)
16 Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work.

Nehemiah emphasizes his personal commitment to the rebuilding effort, focusing on the collective goal rather than seeking personal gain. He and his servants were entirely dedicated to the work, showing his leadership by example, avoiding any conflict of interest such as acquiring land during this period.

Nehemiah 5:17-18 (NKJV)
17 And at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us.
18 Now that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people.

Despite hosting many people at his table, including leaders and foreigners, Nehemiah did not use the official governor’s allowance. He personally funded these meals, avoiding any additional burden on the already struggling population, highlighting his selflessness and concern for the welfare of the people.

Nehemiah 5:19 (NKJV)
19 Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Nehemiah closes the chapter with a prayer, asking God to remember his efforts and his desire to do good for the people. His prayer reveals his reliance on God for both strength and reward, trusting in God’s justice and acknowledgment of his service.