Nehemiah 5:4

4 And some said, We have borrowed money for the king's tributes:—our fields, and our vineyards, and houses .

Nehemiah 5:4 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 5:4

There were also that said
Who though they were able to buy corn for their families without mortgaging their estates: yet, say they,

we have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands
and vineyards;
for though the priests, Levites, and Nethinims, were exempted from it, yet not the people in common; and some of these were so poor, that they could not pay it without borrowing upon their estates, and paying large usury for it, see ( Ezra 6:8 ) ( 7:24 )

Nehemiah 5:4 In-Context

2 And some said, We numerous with our sons and our daughters; so we will take corn, and eat, and live.

3 And some said, our fields and vineyards and houses, let us pledge , and we will take corn, and eat.

4 And some said, We have borrowed money for the king's tributes:—our fields, and our vineyards, and houses .

5 And now our flesh as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: yet, behold, we are reducing our sons and our daughters to slavery, and some of our daughters are enslaved: and there is no power of our hands, for our fields and our vineyards to the nobles.

6 And I was much grieved as I heard their cry and these words.