14 Moreover from the time H3117 that I was appointed H6680 to be their governor H6346 in the land H776 of Judah, H3063 from the twentieth H6242 year H8141 even unto the two H8147 and thirtieth H7970 year H8141 of Artaxerxes H783 the king, H4428 that is, twelve H8147 H6240 years, H8141 I and my brethren H251 have not eaten H398 the bread H3899 of the governor. H6346
Be it known H3046 H1934 now H3705 unto the king, H4430 that, if H2006 this H1791 city H7149 be builded, H1124 and the walls H7792 set up H3635 again, then will they not H3809 pay H5415 toll, H4061 tribute, H1093 and custom, H1983 and so thou shalt endamage H5142 the revenue H674 of the kings. H4430 Now H3705 because H6903 H3606 we have H1768 maintenance H4415 H4416 from the king's palace, H1965 and it was not H3809 meet H749 for us to see H2370 the king's H4430 dishonour, H6173 therefore H5922 H1836 have we sent H7972 and certified H3046 the king; H4430
For G1063 for G1223 this G5124 cause G1223 pay ye G5055 tribute G5411 also: G2532 for G1063 they are G1526 God's G2316 ministers, G3011 attending continually G4342 upon G1519 this G5124 very thing. G846 Render G591 therefore G3767 to all G3956 their dues: G3782 tribute G5411 to whom G3588 tribute G5411 is due; custom G5056 to whom G3588 custom; G5056 fear G5401 to whom G3588 fear; G5401 honour G5092 to whom G3588 honour. G5092
Have we G2192 not G3378 power G1849 to eat G5315 and G2532 to drink? G4095 Have we G2192 not G3378 power G1849 to lead about G4013 a sister, G79 a wife, G1135 as well as G5613 G2532 other G3062 apostles, G652 and G2532 as the brethren G80 of the Lord, G2962 and G2532 Cephas? G2786 Or G2228 I G1473 only G3441 and G2532 Barnabas, G921 have G2192 not G3756 we G2192 power G1849 to forbear G3361 working? G2038 Who G5101 goeth a warfare G4754 any time at G4218 his own G2398 charges? G3800 who G5101 planteth G5452 a vineyard, G290 and G2532 eateth G2068 not G3756 of G1537 the fruit G2590 thereof? G846 or G2228 who G5101 feedeth G4165 a flock, G4167 and G2532 eateth G2068 not G3756 of G1537 the milk G1051 of the flock? G4167 Say I G2980 these things G5023 as G3361 G2596 a man? G444 or G2228 saith G3004 not G3780 the law G3551 the same G5023 also? G2532 For G1063 it is written G1125 in G1722 the law G3551 of Moses, G3475 Thou shalt G5392 not G3756 muzzle G5392 the mouth of the ox G1016 that treadeth out the corn. G248 G3361 Doth G3199 God G2316 take care G3199 for oxen? G1016 Or G2228 saith he G3004 it altogether G3843 for G1223 our G2248 sakes? G1223 For G1223 our G2248 sakes, G1223 no doubt, G1063 this is written: G1125 that G3754 he that ploweth G722 should G3784 plow G722 in G1909 hope; G1680 and G2532 that he that thresheth G248 in hope G1680 should be partaker G3348 of G1909 his G846 hope. G1680 If G1487 we G2249 have sown G4687 unto you G5213 spiritual things, G4152 is it a great thing G3173 if G1487 we G2249 shall reap G2325 your G5216 carnal things? G4559 If G1487 others G243 be partakers G3348 of this power G1849 over you, G5216 are not G3756 we G2249 rather? G3123 Nevertheless G235 we have G5530 not G3756 used G5530 this G5026 power; G1849 but G235 suffer G4722 all things, G3956 lest G3363 we should G1325 G5100 hinder G1464 the gospel G2098 of Christ. G5547 Do ye G1492 not G3756 know G1492 that G3754 they which minister G2038 about holy things G2413 live G2068 of the things of G1537 the temple? G2411 and they which wait G4332 at the altar G2379 are partakers G4829 with the altar? G2379 Even G2532 so G3779 hath G1299 the Lord G2962 ordained G1299 that they which preach G2605 the gospel G2098 should live G2198 of G1537 the gospel. G2098 But G1161 I G1473 have used G5530 none G3762 of these things: G5130 G1161 neither G3756 have I written G1125 these things, G5023 that G2443 it should be G1096 so G3779 done G1096 unto G1722 me: G1698 for G1063 it were better G3123 for me G3427 to die, G599 G2570 than G2228 that G2443 any man G5100 should make G2758 my G3450 glorying G2745 void. G2758
Neither G3761 did we eat G5315 any man's G3844 G5100 bread G740 for nought; G1432 but G235 wrought G2038 with G1722 labour G2873 and G2532 travail G3449 night G3571 and G2532 day, G2250 that G4314 we might G1912 not G3361 be chargeable G1912 to any G5100 of you: G5216 Not G3756 because G3754 we have G2192 not G3756 power, G1849 but G235 to G2443 make G1325 ourselves G1438 an ensample G5179 unto you G5213 to G1519 follow G3401 us. G2248
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Nehemiah 5
Commentary on Nehemiah 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
Ne 5:1-5. The People Complain of Their Debt, Mortgage, and Bondage.
1-5. there was a great cry of the people … against their brethren—Such a crisis in the condition of the Jews in Jerusalem—fatigued with hard labor and harassed by the machinations of restless enemies, the majority of them poor, and the bright visions which hope had painted of pure happiness on their return to the land of their fathers being unrealized—must have been very trying to their faith and patience. But, in addition to these vexatious oppressions, many began to sink under a new and more grievous evil. The poor made loud complaints against the rich for taking advantage of their necessities, and grinding them by usurious exactions. Many of them had, in consequence of these oppressions, been driven to such extremities that they had to mortgage their lands and houses to enable them to pay the taxes to the Persian government, and ultimately even to sell their children for slaves to procure the means of subsistence. The condition of the poorer inhabitants was indeed deplorable; for, besides the deficient harvests caused by the great rains (Ezr 10:9; also Hag 1:6-11), a dearth was now threatened by the enemy keeping such a multitude pent up in the city, and preventing the country people bringing in provisions.
Ne 5:6-19. The Usurers Rebuked.
6-12. I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words—When such disorders came to the knowledge of the governor, his honest indignation was roused against the perpetrators of the evil. Having summoned a public assembly, he denounced their conduct in terms of just severity. He contrasted it with his own in redeeming with his money some of the Jewish exiles who, through debt or otherwise, had lost their personal liberty in Babylon. He urged the rich creditors not only to abandon their illegal and oppressive system of usury, but to restore the fields and vineyards of the poor, so that a remedy might be put to an evil the introduction of which had led to much actual disorder, and the continuance of which would inevitably prove ruinous to the newly restored colony, by violating the fundamental principles of the Hebrew constitution. The remonstrance was effectual. The conscience of the usurious oppressors could not resist the touching and powerful appeal. With mingled emotions of shame, contrition, and fear, they with one voice expressed their readiness to comply with the governor's recommendation. The proceedings were closed by the parties binding themselves by a solemn oath, administered by the priests, that they would redeem their pledge, as well as by the governor invoking, by the solemn and significant gesture of shaking a corner of his garment, a malediction on those who should violate it. The historian has taken care to record that the people did according to this promise.
14. Moreover from the time that I was appointed … I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor—We have a remarkable proof both of the opulence and the disinterestedness of Nehemiah. As he declined, on conscientious grounds, to accept the lawful emoluments attached to his government, and yet maintained a style of princely hospitality for twelve years out of his own resources, it is evident that his office of cup-bearer at the court of Shushan must have been very lucrative.
15. the former governors … had taken … bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver—The income of Eastern governors is paid partly in produce, partly in money. "Bread" means all sorts of provision. The forty shekels of silver per day would amount to a yearly salary of £1800 sterling.
17. Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews—In the East it has been always customary to calculate the expense of a king's or grandee's establishment, not by the amount of money disbursed, but by the quantity of provisions consumed (see 1Ki 4:22; 18:19; Ec 5:11).