Nehemiah 5 - Introduction
Difficulties within the Walls (_a_) 1 13. Nehemiah's measures to redress the wrongs of the poor: (_b_) 14 19. His self-sacrificing generosity to his countrymen.... [ Continue Reading ]
Difficulties within the Walls (_a_) 1 13. Nehemiah's measures to redress the wrongs of the poor: (_b_) 14 19. His self-sacrificing generosity to his countrymen.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there was a great cry_, &c. R.V. THEN THERE AROSE A GREAT CRY, &c. The R.V. rightly shows that the outbreak of the discontentment described in these verses was connected with the rebuilding of the walls. A general stoppage of trade must have resulted from the national undertaking. The presence... [ Continue Reading ]
_For there were that said_ This and the two following verses describe the people's complaint. Their misfortunes were brought to a climax by the condition of hostilities, which put an end to trade and threatened town and country with ruin. The class referred to in this verse are the labourers, who de... [ Continue Reading ]
Some _also_ The complaint in this verse is that among the poorer classes, those who had a little property were compelled to mortgage it in order to obtain the bare necessaries of life. _We_have _mortgaged_ R.V. WE ARE MORTGAGING. The Hebrew verb expresses a state of things going on at the time. _o... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet a third class is mentioned, who had been compelled to borrow in order to pay the taxes and, not having the means to pay their creditors, sold their children as slaves. _we have borrowed … for the king's tribute_ One special cause of distress seems to have been the heaviness of the royal taxes. J... [ Continue Reading ]
_We_ -We" and -ye" in this verse are in emphatic antithesis. _after our ability_ So Vulg. -secundum possibilitatem nostram." LXX. ἐν ἑκουσίῳ ἡμῶν. Another rendering is -according to the number of those that were among us." _have redeemed_ R.V. marg. -Heb. _bought_", i.e. as many as were put up to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Also I said_ -And I said." The C'thib in the Hebrew text (which is probably due to an error of transcription) gives the meaning -and it was said," i.e. by Nehemiah. The rendering -and I said" follows the reading of the K'ri, LXX., Vulg. _It is not good that ye do_ R.V. THE THING THAT YE DO IS NOT G... [ Continue Reading ]
_I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants_ R.V. AND I LIKEWISE, MY BRETHREN AND MY SERVANTS. We must conclude from this verse that Nehemiah himself lent -on usury" to his countrymen. The words are not, as A.V., -I … and my brethren, &c.", but -I, my brethren, &c." Nehemiah takes the reply out of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Restore, I pray you_, &c. On -I pray you" see note on Nehemiah 5:10. Nehemiah demands immediate redress for the wrongs done to fellow-countrymen. He demands restoration of property and remission of interest on loans. _even this day_ The same Hebrew word as is rendered in 1 Samuel 9:13, -at this ti... [ Continue Reading ]
Nehemiah's audience comply with his request. -We will restore" refers to the fields, vineyards, oliveyards and houses seized in default of payment or as pledges; -will require nothing" refers to the usury, i.e. the interest already due upon the sums borrowed. _as thou sayest_ R.V. EVEN AS THOU SAYE... [ Continue Reading ]
_Also I shook my lap_ R.V. ALSO I SHOOK OUT MY LAP. (LXX. ἀναβολήν. Vulg. -sinum".) The word here rendered -lap" only occurs elsewhere in the O. T. in Isaiah 49:22, R.V. -bosom," A.V. -arms." Nehemiah here employs a symbolical gesture, suiting his action to his metaphor. He pressed tightly to his bo... [ Continue Reading ]
Nehemiah recounts other measures by which as governor he endeavoured to relieve the condition of his brethren 14. _Moreover_, &c. i.e. Here is another instance. During the whole tenure of his office, Nehemiah provided out of his own purse for the expenses of his official position. _from the time_…... [ Continue Reading ]
_the former governors that_had been _before me_ R.V. THE FORMER GOVERNORS THAT WERE BEFORE ME. The governors or Pekhahs here referred to by Nehemiah are those of Jerusalem and the neighbouring district. Zerubbabel was the first. We do not know how many there had been in the interval, nor whether the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yea also I continued in the work_, &c. R.V. marg. -Heb. _held fast to_". It does not appear certain whether Nehemiah here refers to his continuous supervision of the building or to his personal share in the work of restoration at his own cost of some portion of it. The word rendered -continued" (us... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moreover_ Nehemiah mentions another proof of his generosity as governor. He regularly entertained over 150 officials, and welcomed Jewish strangers to his table. _an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those that came unto us_, &c. The English rendering which seems here to distinguis... [ Continue Reading ]
for me _daily_ R.V. FOR ONE DAY. Compare Solomon's daily provision, 1 Kings 4:22-23. _choice_ i.e. picked or chosen for their fatness and good condition. The word in the Hebrew is used of men chosen for a purpose, 1 Chronicles 7:40; 1Ch 9:22; 1 Chronicles 16:41. In 1 Samuel 9:2 Saul is called a -ch... [ Continue Reading ]
_Think upon me, my God, for good_, according to _all_, &c. R.V. REMEMBER UNTO ME, O MY GOD, FOR GOOD, ALL, &c. -Remember" is the natural translation here and in the similar passages, Nehemiah 6:14; Nehemiah 13:22; Nehemiah 13:29; Nehemiah 13:31. The A.V. unfortunately introduced the rendering -think... [ Continue Reading ]