NEHEMIAH CHAPTER 5 The people complain of their brethren, by reason of their debts, mortgages, and bondage, NEHEMIAH 5:1. Nehemiah rebuketh the usurers, and causeth them to make a covenant of restitution, NEHEMIAH 5:6. He forbeareth his own allowance, and keepeth hospitality, NEHEMIAH 5:14. The quan... [ Continue Reading ]
WE, OUR SONS, AND OUR DAUGHTERS, ARE MANY; which is in itself a blessing, but to us is turned into a curse. WE TAKE UP CORN FOR THEM, i.e. we are forced by our and their necessities to take up corn, to wit, upon their own unreasonable terms, as is here implied, and plainly expressed in the following... [ Continue Reading ]
Which might easily happen, both from the multitude of the people now in and near Jerusalem, and from their building work, which wholly took them up, and kept them from taking care of their own families, and from the expectation and dread of their enemies invasion, which hindered them from going abro... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGS TRIBUTE was laid upon them all. See EZRA 4:13, EZRA 7:24... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR FLESH IS AS THE FLESH OF OUR BRETHREN; we are of the same nature, and nation, and religion with them although they treat us as if we were beasts or heathens, forgetting both humanity and God's law, DEUTERONOMY 15:7. WE BRING INTO BONDAGE; we are compelled to sell them for our subsistence. OUR SO... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE EXACT USURY EVERY ONE OF HIS BROTHER; which was against the plain and positive law of God, DEUTERONOMY 23:19,20; especially in this time of public calamity and dearth. I SET A GREAT ASSEMBLY AGAINST THEM; I called a public congregation, both of the rulers and people, the greatest part whereof wer... [ Continue Reading ]
WE AFTER OUR ABILITY HAVE REDEEMED OUR BRETHREN THE JEWS, WHICH WERE SOLD UNTO THE HEATHEN: I, and my, brethren, and predecessors, have used our utmost interest and power, both with the kings of Persia, that our brethren might be redeemed from that bondage into which God had sold them for their sins... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NOT GOOD, i. e. it is a very bad and wicked thing; as this same phrase is used, PROVERBS 16:29, PROVERBS 17:26 18:5 19:2. A common figure, called _meiosis_, where more is understood than is expressed. BECAUSE OF THE REPROACH OF THE HEATHEN OUR ENEMIES; who are round about you, and observe all... [ Continue Reading ]
MY BRETHREN, to wit, in office; those who are employed with me in the government of this people. MY SERVANTS; in my name, and for my use. MIGHT EXACT OF THEM MONEY AND CORN, as a just recompence for our pains and care for the public good, to which we wholly devote ourselves, even to the neglect of a... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO THE HUNDREDTH PART OF THE MONEY; also require not; which is to be supplied out of the next verse, where it is expressed in their answer to and grant of this desire. _The hundredth part_; which they required every month for the use of their monies or goods, according to the custom then used, and... [ Continue Reading ]
WE WILL RESTORE THEM, to wit, the lands and houses. WILL REQUIRE NOTHING OF THEM, for the hundredth part. I CALLED THE PRIESTS; either, 1. As delinquents in that kind; or rather as witnesses, that the oath being taken before the priests, who acted in God's name and stead, the oath might make the mor... [ Continue Reading ]
I SHOOK MY LAP, i.e. the lap or extreme parts of my garment, which I first folded together, and then shook it, and scattered it asunder. This was a form of swearing then in use. FROM HIS LABOUR, i.e. from enjoying what he hath got by his labour.... [ Continue Reading ]
TWELVE YEARS; not that he continued so long together at Jerusalem, of which see NEHEMIAH 2:6; but that he so long governed Jerusalem by himself when he was present, and in his absence by a deputy. I AND MY BRETHREN; either my fellow officers, or they whom I left in my stead, who as they were to do a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FORMER GOVERNORS; not Ezra, who was no governor, but only a priest sent to teach them, and to rectify church abuses; nor Zerubbabel; but others between him and Nehemiah, whom he forbears to name, because he designed not to disgrace any person, but only to reform the abuses. BESIDE FORTY SHEKELS... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE WORK OF THIS WALL; overseeing, directing, and encouraging the workmen, which was my whole business; and this at my own cost. NEITHER BOUGHT WE ANY LAND OF OUR POOR BRETHREN, whose necessities gave me abundant opportunity of enriching myself with good bargains. But I durst not build my house u... [ Continue Reading ]
AN HUNDRED AND FIFTY OF THE JEWS AND RULERS; not only Jews of the inferior sort, for whom meaner provisions might suffice, but also their rulers, such as there were in many places, for whom better provision was fit; who resorted to him upon all occasions, either to pour out their complaints, as here... [ Continue Reading ]
But bore it out of my own estate; which was very considerable, his office in the Persian court being a place of very great profit as well as honour, and that profit no doubt continued to him in this his absence from the king. From this great and daily expense, it seems more than probable that Nehemi... [ Continue Reading ]
As I have done thy people good for thy sake, so do me good for thine own sake; for thou art pleased, and hast promised graciously to reward us according to our works, and to mete to men the same measure which they mete to others.... [ Continue Reading ]