Nehemiah 5:1-10

Usury Abolished

1 Now ¹there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their ²Jewish brothers.

2 For there were those who said, "We, our sons and our daughters are many; therefore let us ³get grain that we may eat and live."

3 There were others who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our houses that we might get grain because of the famine."

4 Also there were those who said, "We have borrowed money ⁴for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards.

5 "Now ⁵our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, ⁶we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless * * because our fields and vineyards belong to others."

6 Then I was very ⁷angry when I had heard their outcry and these words.

7 I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, "⁸You are exacting usury, each from his brother!" Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.

8 I said to them, "We according to our ability ⁹have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?" Then they were silent and could not find a word to say.

9 Again I said, "The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of ¹⁰the reproach of the nations, our enemies?

10 "And likewise I, my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please, let us leave off this usury.

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Nehemiah 5:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 5

In this chapter is a complaint of the poor against the rich for oppression of them, Ne 5:1-5 for which Nehemiah being angry, reproved them, and made them promise, and swear to it, to make restitution, Ne 5:6-13 and set them an example himself, taking nothing of them during his twelve years' government, supporting himself and his at his own expenses, Ne 5:14-19.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 10

1. Leviticus 25:35
2. Deuteronomy 15:7
3. Haggai 1:6
4. Ezra 4:13; Ezra 7:24
5. Genesis 37:27
6. Leviticus 25:39
7. Exodus 11:8
8. Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36; Deuteronomy 23:19, 20
9. Leviticus 25:48
10. Nehemiah 4:4

Footnotes 2

[a]. Lit "there is not the power in our hands"
[b]. Lit "bought"