Nehemiah 9:37

And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

It yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins - our agricultural labours have been resumed in the land-we plow, and sow, and till, and thou blessest the work of our hands with a plentiful return; but this increase is not for ourselves, as once it was, but for our foreign masters, to whom we have to pay large and oppressive tribute.

They have dominion over our bodies. Their persons were liable to be pressed, at the mandate of their Assyrian conqueror, into the service of his empire, either in war or in public works (whence we may see how groundless the boast of their descendants, John 8:33); and 'our beasts are taken to do their pleasure.'