Nehemiah 5:10

10 I likewise, my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

Nehemiah 5:10 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 5:10

I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of
them money and corn
For our maintenance, in consideration of the services done by us, which would appear but reasonable, but this we decline for the sake of easing our poor brethren:

I pray you let us leave off this usury;
and not exact it, as has been too much and too long used.

Nehemiah 5:10 In-Context

8 And I said to them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold to us? Then they held their peace, and found nothing [to answer].

9 Also I said, That [is] not good which ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

10 I likewise, my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive-yards, and their houses, also the hundredth [part] of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

12 Then said they, We will restore [them], and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.