Introduction
‘Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.” Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.” Nehemiah 5:1-5
NEHEMIAH HELPS THE POOR
The events in this chapter describe didn’t just happen within the fifty-two days it took to rebuild the wall. In this chapter, we find that Nehemiah has now got some serious problems which needed to be dealt with, Nehemiah 5:1. It appears that the wealthy Jews were taking advantage of other Jews due to a famine which was taking place. The famine had caused some Jews to fall into debt because they couldn’t pay their taxes, Ezra 4:13 / Esther 10:1.
Some Jews have given themselves over to other Jews as servants because they had borrowed from them in order to pay their taxes. However, in their greed, the wealthier Jews were using this distressful time as a means to deprive their fellow Jews.
Their three complaints were as follows.
1. Because there were so many Jews in one area and there was a famine going on, this first group wants to be allowed to get some grain, Nehemiah 5:2.
2. Some had to sell their homes and vineyards so they could have enough money to buy some grain, Nehemiah 5:3.
3. Some had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax and they weren’t able to pay back what they borrowed and so, they were being forced into offering up their sons and daughters as slaves, Nehemiah 5:4-5 / Exodus 21:7.
Rawlinson, in his commentary, says the following.
‘There were three causes of the situation. These were over-population, Nehemiah 5:2, recent famine, Nehemiah 5:3, and heavy taxation, Nehemiah 5:4.’
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘About the time of Zerubbabel, God had sent a judicial dearth upon the land, as we learn from Haggai, Haggai 1:9, for the people it seems were more intent on building houses for themselves than on rebuilding the house of the Lord.’
This is another deeply challenging time and problem for Nehemiah to sort out, but as we’re about to read, he is more than capable of doing so.
‘When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet because they could find nothing to say. So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.” “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.” Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!” At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.’ Nehemiah 5:6-13
Being a person who was leading the people in difficult times, the natural reaction of Nehemiah against such greed would be anger, Nehemiah 5:6. It’s worth pointing out that even though Nehemiah was very angry, Nehemiah 5:6, he didn’t just jump in to try and solve the problem, he took his time and gave the matter some serious thought first, Nehemiah 5:7. In his discretion, he knew that a stern rebuke was needed in order to correct the injustice, Nehemiah 5:7.
The nobles and officials were taking advantage of the poor and they knew the Jews wouldn’t be able to pay back what they owed. In other words, the wealthy were getting wealthier at the expense of the poor, Nehemiah 5:7 / Deuteronomy 15:2.
The New Layman’s Bible Commentary, says the following.
‘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.’
The wealthy would have owned their own vineyards and land and they could have used their children as slaves, 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, Nehemiah 5:8 / Leviticus 25:42.
It was lawful to charge interest to a Gentile, Nehemiah 5:8-9, but not to a fellow Jew. Nehemiah puts a stop to this extortion, which was the collection of unlawful interest, Nehemiah 5:10, and this practice was against the Law of Moses, Exodus 22:25 / Deuteronomy 23:19-20.
He reminds the nobles and wealthier Jews that he hadn’t demanded payment from them as the official governor of the land, Nehemiah 5:10. He had a right to require taxes from them as a representative of the king of Persia, but he didn’t demand their money, Nehemiah 5:14.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘From what is related here, and in the following verse, we find that the table of the governor was always supplied by the people with bread and wine; and, besides, they had forty shekels per diem for their other expenses. The people were also greatly oppressed by the servants and officers of the governor; but, during the twelve years that Nehemiah had been with them, he took not this salary and ate none of their bread. Nor were his servants permitted to take or extract anything from them. Having such an example, it was scandalous for their chiefs, priests, and nobles, thus, to oppress an afflicted and distressed people.’
There was no arguing over this matter because although Nehemiah had the right as the governor of Judah to take payment, he didn’t do so, Nehemiah 5:15. Notice that Nehemiah didn’t give them a time for cancelling the debts, he demands that all such debts be cancelled straight away, Nehemiah 5:11.
They weren’t only to restore their lands and houses but also the one percent monthly interest that they had charged, Nehemiah 5:11 / Exodus 22:25 / Leviticus 25:36. The nobles and officials repented and made an oath that they would give back the interest they charged and give back the property they had taken, Nehemiah 5:12.
Nehemiah shook out the folds of his garments, Nehemiah 5:13, which a symbolic gesture to demonstrate disgust and rejection, 1 Kings 22:11 / Jeremiah 27:2 / Jeremiah 28:10 / Matthew 10:14 / Acts 13:51 / Acts 18:6.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘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 honour.’
It was after this gesture that the whole assembly said ‘amen’, and they praised God as the nobles and officials kept their promise, Nehemiah 5:13.
‘Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people. Remember me with favour, my God, for all I have done for these people.’ Nehemiah 5:14-19
The text tells us that Nehemiah was governor for twelve years, Nehemiah 5:14, which was approximately 444-432 B.C. Being the govern allowed him to have certain provisions and the governors before him had taken their provisions, but Nehemiah didn’t, Nehemiah 5:14-15.The reason for him not taking any provisions was because he didn’t want to put a burden on the people, so he lived by his own means and took care of his servants, Acts 20:33-35 / 1 Corinthians 9:1-15.
The text also tells us that Nehemiah devoted himself to working on the wall, Nehemiah 5:16. This could mean that he literally worked on the wall, or he continue overseeing the work of the wall. He says each day one ox, six choice sheep, 1 Kings 4:22-23, and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds, however, he never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people, Nehemiah 5:17-18.
Nehemiah finishes by asking God to remember him with favour, especially in light of everything he’s done for the people, Nehemiah 5:19. Once again, the leadership skills of Nehemiah are seen here, as he quickly dealt with what could have easily become a time of tremendous disunity among the people.