Nehemiah 5:2-5

2 For there were those who said, "We, our sons and our daughters are many; therefore let us ¹get 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 ²for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards.

5 "Now ³our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, ⁴we 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."

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Nehemiah 5:2-5 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 4

1. Haggai 1:6
2. Ezra 4:13; Ezra 7:24
3. Genesis 37:27
4. Leviticus 25:39

Footnotes 1

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