Nehemiah 5:6-9

When Nehemiah heard about these troubles, he was very angry. He did not want to stop the work on the walls, but he did feel sorry for the poor people. He was very careful. He stopped and he thought about what to do. Then he arranged a big meeting to deal with the problem.

The rich people were the chief men and the officials. Nehemiah told them that they were doing the wrong thing. And the result was that their own people were suffering. So Nehemiah reminded the rich people that some *Jews had been slaves before. When Nehemiah had returned to *Judah, he and his companions had tried to buy these slaves back. Now their own people were making them slaves again. Nehemiah told the rich people that they had not obeyed God’s commands (Deuteronomy 23:19-20; Deuteronomy 24:10-13; Leviticus 25:35-46). God had sent the *Jews into *exile because they did not obey his commands like this. If the rich leaders respected God, they would not do these things. But otherwise, the *Jews would be ashamed. And their enemies would laugh at them.

The rich people could not answer Nehemiah. They knew that their actions were wrong. They knew that they had no excuse.

This passage shows us an important fact about Nehemiah’s character. Nehemiah was a very sincere man. And he did the right things whether or not anyone noticed. He used his own money to free *Jews who had been slaves. But he has not mentioned this matter previously in this book. Nehemiah did not care whether he impressed other people. But he always wanted to please God.

v10 ‘I and my companions and my helpers are also lending money and grain to the people. But you should not charge them money for such loans! v11 Give back to them their fields, their *vineyards, their *orchards, and their houses immediately. Also, give back to them the money that you charged them. You charged them a certain per cent on the money, grain, wine and oil.’

v12 The chief men and officials replied, ‘We will give it all back. We will not continue to charge them for the loans. We will do as you say.’

Then I called the priests. I ordered the rich *Jews to make a promise. They must do all that they had said. v13 I also shook my coat that I was wearing. I said, ‘Every man must do what he has promised. Otherwise, I pray that God will shake that man. In other words, I pray that God will disturb that man. And I pray that God will separate that man from his house and his possessions. I pray that God will take everything away from that man. I pray that God will leave that man with nothing.’

Everyone said, ‘We agree!’ And they praised the *Lord. And the people did what they had promised to do.