Nehemiah 5:14-19

Nehemiah's Example

14 Moreover, from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from ¹the twentieth year to the ²thirty-second * year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve * years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor's food allowance.

15 But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do so ³because * of the fear of God.

16 I also applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.

17 Moreover, ⁴there were at my table one hundred and fifty Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.

18 Now ⁵that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep, also birds were prepared for me; and once in ten days all sorts of wine were furnished in abundance. Yet for all this ⁶I did not demand the governor's food allowance, because the servitude was heavy on this people.

19 ⁷Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Nehemiah 5:14-19 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.

Cross References

• 1. Nehemiah 1:1
• 2. Nehemiah 13:6
• 3. Nehemiah 5:9; Job 31:23
• 4. 1 Kings 18:19
• 5. 1 Kings 4:22, 23
• 6. 2 Thessalonians 3:8
• 7. Neh 13:14, 22, 31

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "brothers"
• [b]. Lit "made heavy"
• [c]. Or "held fast"