NEHEMIAH'S MEASURES IN ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY 1. The people] i.e. the commons (as contrasted with the nobles and rulers, Nehemiah 5:7). These had neglected their own interests to labour gratuitously on the fortifications, and now in the time of dearth were feeling the pinch of want.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WE TAKE UP CORN] better, 'we must get corn.' The language is that of desperate men, compelled by necessity to accept the harsh conditions imposed by those to whom they had recourse for the corn they required.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING'S TRIBUTE] The common people were not exempted from paying taxes to the Persian king, like the priests and other ministers of the Temple (Ezra 7:24; Nehemiah 9:37).... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR FLESH, ETC.] i.e. we are as much Jews as the creditors to whom we have sold our children. BONDAGE] The sale of children to defray a debt was recognised in the Mosaic Law: see Exodus 21:2; Deuteronomy 15:12. cp. also 2 Kings 4:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE EXACT USURY] Usury was prohibited by the Law in connexion with loans made to fellow-Israelites (Exodus 22:25; Deuteronomy 23:19); but the Jews doubtless interpreted the prohibition with the same latitude as Christians have done the similar command in the Gospel (Luke 6:35). The Law probably had i... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE REDEEMED.. HEATHEN] probably during Nehemiah's residence in Persia.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REPROACH] the humiliation they had undergone in consequence of their failure to walk in the fear of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
MIGHT EXACT] RV 'do lend.. on usury.' Nehemiah, to conciliate those whom he wished to persuade, admitted that he (probably in the persons of his relatives and dependents) had been guilty of the same conduct against which he was protesting.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR LANDS, etc] These had been given in pledge, and, if unredeemed, were retained by the creditor. THE HUNDREDTH _part_] usually regarded as one per cent, a month, and so equivalent to twelve per cent, a year. The expression restore, in connexion with the interest, probably means 'cease to require... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK AN OATH OF THEM] i.e. took of the money-lenders an oath which the priests administered to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOOK MY LAP] For similar symbolic acts cp. 1 Kings 22:11; Jeremiah 27:2; Jeremiah 28:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE TWENTIETH.. UNTO THE TWO AND THIRTIETH] i.e. from 445-433 b.c. The fact that Artaxerxes seems to have been unwilling to part with his cup-bearer for a long period, and stipulated for a date by which he was to return (Nehemiah 2:6), makes it rather surprising that he should have thus been ab... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER BOUGHT WE] better, 'neither got we' (by foreclosing mortgages). ALL MY SERVANTS] He did not retain them to attend to himself or to his own interests. The whole conduct of Nehemiah was that of a warmhearted, generous man.... [ Continue Reading ]