Nehemiah 5

King James Version

Full text for Nehemiah Chapter 5

1¶ And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

2For 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.

4There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, [and that upon] our lands and vineyards.

5Yet 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.

7Then 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.

8And 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].

9Also 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?

10I likewise, [and] my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

11Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth [part] of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

12Then 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.

13Also 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.

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.

15But 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.

16Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants [were] gathered thither unto the work.

17Moreover [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.

18Now [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.

19Think upon me, my God, for good, [according] to all that I have done for this people.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Nehemiah 5 describes a great outcry among the Jewish people due to severe economic distress, debt, and the forced selling of their children into bondage by their wealthier brethren who exacted usury. Nehemiah, angered by this injustice, confronted the nobles and rulers, demanding they cease their oppressive practices and restore all lands, vineyards, and money taken. The leaders agreed, taking an oath to comply, and Nehemiah further exemplified righteous leadership by recounting his own twelve years of selfless governance, wherein he never burdened the people.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with a great cry from the people, who, facing famine and heavy tribute, were forced to mortgage their lands and even sell their children into servitude to their wealthier Jewish brethren who practiced usury. Nehemiah was greatly angered upon hearing their plight and, after consulting with himself, publicly rebuked the nobles and rulers for their oppressive actions. He reminded them of the principle of redeeming their brethren from heathen slavery, contrasting it with their current practice of enslaving their own. Nehemiah urged them to walk in the fear of God and to immediately restore all lands, vineyards, houses, and the hundredth part of money, corn, wine, and oil they had exacted. The nobles agreed to his demands, taking a solemn oath before the priests to fulfill their promise. Nehemiah then highlighted his own twelve years as governor, during which he and his household never took the customary provisions or silver, but instead supported the work and many people from his own resources, demonstrating a leadership driven by the fear of God and concern for the people's heavy burden.

Long Summary

Nehemiah 5 begins with a significant outcry from the Jewish people and their wives against their brethren, stemming from severe economic hardship. Many reported being numerous and needing corn to survive, while others had mortgaged their lands, vineyards, and houses to buy food due to dearth. Some had borrowed money for the king's tribute, pledging their lands, leading to a desperate situation where they were forced to bring their sons and daughters into bondage, unable to redeem them. Upon hearing these grievances, Nehemiah became exceedingly angry. He deliberated internally before confronting the nobles and rulers, accusing them of exacting usury from their own brethren. Nehemiah then convened a great assembly against them, challenging their actions by pointing out that the community had previously redeemed Jews sold to the heathen, questioning why they would now sell their own kin. He emphasized the importance of walking in the fear of God to avoid reproach from their enemies. Nehemiah declared that even he, his brethren, and servants could have exacted money and corn, but he urged them to cease this usury. He demanded the immediate restoration of all lands, vineyards, oliveyards, houses, and the hundredth part of the money, corn, wine, and oil they had exacted. The nobles and rulers agreed to restore everything and require nothing, promising to do as Nehemiah commanded. Nehemiah then called the priests and made the leaders swear an oath to uphold their promise, symbolically shaking his lap and pronouncing a curse upon anyone who failed to perform it, to which the congregation responded with "Amen" and praised the Lord. The people subsequently fulfilled their promise. The chapter concludes with Nehemiah recounting his own exemplary governorship over twelve years, from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes. Unlike previous governors who were chargeable to the people, taking bread, wine, and forty shekels of silver, and whose servants also ruled oppressively, Nehemiah and his household did not partake of the governor's bread, acting out of the fear of God. He continued to work on the wall, did not acquire land, and daily fed a large number of Jews, rulers, and those from surrounding heathen nations at his own table, providing an ox, six choice sheep, fowls, and various wines, all because the people's bondage was already heavy. He concludes with a prayer for God to remember him for good based on his service.

Core Concepts

  • Economic DistressThe people faced severe hardship, including famine, the need to mortgage property, and borrowing money for tribute, leading to the desperate measure of selling their children into servitude.
  • Usury and OppressionWealthier Jews were exacting excessive interest (usury) from their poorer brethren, exploiting their vulnerability and forcing them into debt bondage, which Nehemiah strongly condemned.
  • Nehemiah's Righteous IndignationNehemiah's immediate and profound anger upon hearing the cries of the oppressed people demonstrates his strong moral compass and commitment to justice within the community.
  • Brotherhood and RedemptionNehemiah highlighted the hypocrisy of selling fellow Jews into bondage when the community had previously worked to redeem their brethren from heathen slavery, emphasizing the sacred bond among them.
  • Fear of God as MotivationNehemiah repeatedly invoked the "fear of God" as the guiding principle for righteous conduct, urging leaders to act justly to avoid both divine displeasure and reproach from their enemies.
  • Restoration and CovenantThe nobles' agreement to restore all seized lands, properties, and money, sealed by a solemn oath before the priests, signifies a renewal of just practices within the community.
  • Selfless GovernanceNehemiah's personal example of refusing the customary governor's provisions and instead supporting the people and the work from his own resources for twelve years showcased his dedication and integrity.