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More Nehemiah commentaries
Nehemiah 2:1-8
Nehemiah was fearful of what others may think
Nehemiah 2:9-20
Nehemiah determines to rebuild the wall
Nehemiah 3:1-14
Delegation of the work load
Nehemiah 3:15-32
Helping everyone to feel a part of the objective
Nehemiah 4:1-6
Ridicule and Criticism comes to Nehemiah
Nehemiah 4:7-14
Nehemiah reminds the people of their calling
Nehemiah 4:15-23
Nehemiah sets up a communication system
Nehemiah 5:1-13
Nehemiah deals with oppression
Nehemiah 5:14-19
The Generosity of Nehemiah
Nehemiah 6:1-9
Conspiracy Against Nehemiah
Nehemiah 6:10-19
The Wall Completed
Nehemiah 7:1-38
The Captives Who Returned to Jerusalem
Nehemiah 7:39-73
The Living Link Between the Past and the Future
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Nehemiah deals with oppression
Nehemiah 5:1–13
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Christians in Romania relate that during the government oppression they had endured for years, Bibles were very scarce. Christian would tear pages out of the Bible and pass them around to read. Recently, while digging some footers they discovered a metal container that had been b … More
Up to this point Nehemiah’s challenges as a spiritual leader had been primarily from those outside of Judah. However, in this chapter he faces the most difficult and intense kind of problem that any leader faces and that is problems from within. Not only were their enemies a constant threat to their security, but now many Jews were actually taking advantage of other Jews. Some of the men and their wives complained about the Jews in power (v. 1). This was manifested in the following ways:
Nehemiah was angry when he discovered the injustice (v. 6). Even though his anger was righteous indignation, he did not take immediate action (v. 7a). He first of all gathers the rich members of the community together and brings this injustice to their attention (v. 7b). Then he calls all of the Jewish community together for a “great assembly” (v. 7c). God’s reputation was at stake (vv. 8-9). Immoral and unethical behavior was bringing reproach to His name. Nehemiah asked the people to return what they had taken from others and stop charging interest (vv. 10-11). No doubt he was pleased when the people responded to his exhortations (vv. 12-13).
Application
For me to care for those who are in need is more important than personal gain (I Cor. 12:26).
Nehemiah 5:1-13 (English Standard Version)
Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. For there were those who said, "With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive." There were also those who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine." And there were those who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards. Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards." I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, "You are exacting interest, each from his brother." And I held a great assembly against them and said to them, "We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!" They were silent and could not find a word to say. So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them." Then they said, "We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say." And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, "So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said "Amen" and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
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