Nehemiah 5:1-5

Nehemiah Stops Oppression of the Poor

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

2 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."

3 There were also those who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine."

4 And there were those who said, "We have borrowed money for ³the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards.

5 Now ⁴our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet ⁵we 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."

Nehemiah 5:1-5 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. [Exodus 3:9; Isaiah 5:7]
• 2. Leviticus 25:35, 37; Deuteronomy 15:7
• 3. Ezra 4:13, 20; Ezra 7:24
• 4. Isaiah 58:7; [Genesis 29:14]
• 5. [Exodus 21:7; Leviticus 25:39; 2 Kings 4:1]