1.
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
a great cry. So there were troubles within as well as without. Compare 2 Corinthians 7:5 .
the people = the common people, in contrast with the nobles and rulers (Nehemiah 5:7 ), who had returned with Nehemiah.
2.
For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
3.
Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
have mortgaged = are mortgaging.
the dearth. One of the thirteen famines ( App-10 ) recorded in Scripture. See note on Genesis 12:10 .
4.
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5.
Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6.
And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
children = sons.
lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
7.
Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
Then = And.
rulers. See note on Nehemiah 2:16 .
exact usury. It was twelve per cent. See Nehemiah 5:11 .
one = man.
set = appointed.
assembly = body [of witnesses. ] Hebrew. kehallah (feminine.) Occurs only here and Deuteronomy 33:4 .
against = over.
8.
And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
redeemed = re-purchased. Hebrew. kanah , to acquire by purchase; not ga'al , to redeem by purchase; or padah , to deliver by power. See notes on Exodus 6:6 ; Exodus 13:13 .
heathen = nations.
9.
Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
do = are doing.
ought ye . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
10.
I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
servants = young men.
leave off. Hebrew. Homonym, 'azab. Here means to leave off. See note on Nehemiah 3:8 .
11.
Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
the hundredth part. Paid at one per cent, per month, as was the custom; it was twelve per cent, per annum.
the wine. Some codices, with two early printed editions and Syriac, read "and the new wine".
wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .
12.
Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
as = according as.
called: i.e. as witnesses.
13.
Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
congregation = assembly or muster.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.
14.
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
Moreover from the time that I was appointed, &c. Nehemiah 5:14-19 are put within brackets for the following reasons:
As Nehemiah's record must have been written many years later, after the dedication both of the Temple (405 B.C.) and the Wall (403 B.C.), the reference to his policy during the twelve years of his governorship, from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes (Darius Hystaspis, 419-407 B. C), is introduced here, in order to emphasize the contrast between the rapacity of "the nobles and rulers" (Nehemiah 5:7 ), and his own conduct. For he says that, not only at that time (454 B.C.) did he not exploit the people for his own advantage, but that during his governorship (which ended in 407 B. C, some four or five years at least before the time of his writing the final record, more than forty years later than 454), when, according to Eastern views, he would have been justified in getting as much as he could out of his office, he not only lived entirely at his own charges but supported others also. See note below on Nehemiah 13:4-9 .
time = day.
governor = Pasha.
from the twentieth year. See App-50 . (5).
Artaxerxes = the great king, viz. Astyages. See notes on p. 618, and App-57 .
the bread of the governor. The supplies due to him from the people.
15.
But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
See Nehemiah 5:14 for a longer note that applies to this verse.
beside. Heb, 'ahar = after: i.e. after the rate of, as in Jeremiah 3:17 ; Jeremiah 18:12 . Rendered "beside" only here, out of several hundred times.
16.
Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
See Nehemiah 5:14 for a longer note that applies to this verse.
we . Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "I"
17.
Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
See Nehemiah 5:14 for a longer note that applies to this verse.
fifty of = fifty men of.
heathen = nations.
18.
Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
See Nehemiah 5:14 for a longer note that applies to this verse.
prepared. At Nehemiah's own cost.
wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .
19.
Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
See Nehemiah 5:14 for a longer note that applies to this verse.
Think. Figure of speech Apostrophe ( App-6 ) and Figure of speech Anthropopatheia .