Nehemiah 5:14-19

Here we find out more about Nehemiah. He was a good leader and a good model to the people in different ways.

Nehemiah became the ruler, so he was an important man. But he still had a humble attitude. And he really cared about the people.

The king allowed the ruler to have special food. This probably means that the ruler could tax the people. But Nehemiah did not want to do this, because he respected God. Nehemiah knew that many of the people were poor. They had to pay tax to the king also. Nehemiah was probably already rich because the king had appointed him as the ruler. The previous rulers of *Judah had not been such good leaders. They had taken silver as well as food and wine from the people.

Nehemiah did not even want to obtain his own property. His job was to lead the people and to build the city walls. Also Nehemiah invited many people to eat with him every day. He paid for this food himself. He was ruler for 12 years and all that time he invited other people to eat his food. He did not ask the people to give him food.

Nehemiah wanted God to be pleased. And because Nehemiah respected God, Nehemiah was a good leader. He was generous to the people that he ruled.

Jews ~ all the people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Or, just the people from the country called Judah.
Judah ~ the south part of the nation that belonged to the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. After the death of King Solomon, the nation split into two, and Judah became a separate country. Then, the inhabitants were called Jews. Judah was also the name of a son of Jacob. God gave the region called Judah to this man’s (Judah’s) descendants.
vineyard ~ a place where fruit bushes grow. People use the fruit to make wine.
famine ~ a time when there is not enough food, so people become hungry.
Judah ~ the south part of the nation that belonged to the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. After the death of King Solomon, the nation split into two, and Judah became a separate country. Then, the inhabitants were called Jews. Judah was also the name of a son of Jacob. God gave the region called Judah to this man’s (Judah’s) descendants.
Jews ~ all the people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Or, just the people from the country called Judah.
exile ~ a period when people cannot live in their own country. This period may be for many years.
orchard ~ a place to grow fruit trees.
Lord ~ a title for God to show that he is over all. But sometimes we translate Jehovah as ‘Lord’.
Jehovah ~ a special name for God. This name means that God is always God. And it reminds us about the special relationship between God and his people.