Nehemiah 5
Overview
5:1 The Jews complain of their debt, mortgage, and bondage;
5:6 Nehemiah rebukes the usurers, and causes them to make a covenant of restitution;
5:14 He forbears his own allowance, and keeps hospitality. Verse 1a great cryExodus 3:7, 22:25-27; Job 31:38, 31:39, 34:28; Isaiah 5:7; Luke 18:7; James 5:4 their brethrenLeviticus 25:35-37; Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Acts 7:26; 1 Corinthians 6:6-8ReciprocalExodus 21:2 - an Hebrew; Deuteronomy 23:19 - General; Nehemiah 10:31 - the exaction; Job 35:9 - they make; Psalm 37:21 - borroweth; 82:4 - rid; Proverbs 21:13 - at; Ecclesiastes 4:1 - and considered; Jeremiah 15:10 - I have; 34:8 - to proclaim; Lamentations 5:13 - fell; Ezekiel 18:8 - hath not; 22:12 - thou hast; 45:9 - take away; Amos 8:6 - General; Micah 2:2 - so; Luke 6:30 - and; 1 Corinthians 7:33 - careth Verse 2our sonsPsalm 127:3-5, 128:2-4; Malachi 2:2 we take up cornGenesis 41:57, 42:2, 43:8Reciprocal47:19 - buy us; Exodus 22:25 - General; Deuteronomy 28:32 - sons; 2 Kings 4:1 - the creditor; Job 29:12 - I delivered; Psalm 15:5 - putteth Verse 3mortgagedGenesis 47:15-25; Leviticus 25:35-39; Deuteronomy 15:7 becauseMalachi 3:8-11ReciprocalGenesis 47:19 - buy us; Nehemiah 5:11 - their lands Verse 4the king's tributeNehemiah 9:37; Deuteronomy 28:47, 28:48; Joshua 16:10; 1 Kings 9:21; Ezra 4:13, 4:20ReciprocalExodus 22:14 - borrow; Nehemiah 5:11 - their lands; Proverbs 22:7 - the borrower; Lamentations 1:1 - how is; Matthew 22:17 - is; Luke 20:22 - General; John 8:33 - and were; Romans 13:6 - pay; Revelation 18:13 - slaves Verse 5our fleshGenesis 37:27; Isaiah 58:7; James 2:5, 2:6 weExodus 21:1-11; Leviticus 25:39-43; 2 Kings 4:1; Matthew 18:25ReciprocalGenesis 17:13 - bought; Exodus 21:7 - sell; 21:26 - General; Leviticus 25:48 - General; Deuteronomy 5:14 - thy manservant; Esther 7:4 - But if we; Job 24:9 - General; 31:15 - Did not he; Proverbs 22:7 - the borrower; 29:13 - meet; Isaiah 50:1 - or which; Ephesians 6:9 - ye; Colossians 4:1 - give; Revelation 18:13 - slaves Verse 6Nehemiah 13:8, 13:25; Exodus 11:8; Numbers 16:15; Mark 3:5; Ephesians 4:26ReciprocalNehemiah 13:11 - contended; 2 Corinthians 7:11 - indignation; 11:29 - and I burn Verse 7I consulted with myselfHeb. my heart consulted in me, Psalm 4:4, 27:8 I rebukedLeviticus 19:15; 2 Chronicles 19:6, 19:7; Psalm 82:1-4; Proverbs 27:5; 2 Corinthians 5:16; Galatians 2:11; 1 Timothy 5:20; Titus 2:15 Ye exact usuryExodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36; Deuteronomy 15:2, 15:3, 23:19, 23:20, 24:10-13; Psalm 15:1, 15:5; Ezekiel 22:12, 45:9 I set a great assembly2 Chronicles 28:9-13; Matthew 18:17ReciprocalNehemiah 5:10 - leave; 6:17 - the nobles; 13:17 - I contended; Job 31:34 - the contempt; Psalm 94:16 - stand up; Proverbs 24:25 - them; 28:4 - but; Isaiah 33:15 - despiseth; 58:3 - exact; Matthew 18:28 - and took Verse 8We afterMatthew 25:15, 25:29; 2 Corinthians 8:12; Galatians 6:10 redeemedLeviticus 25:47-49 sell yourExodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7 shall theyRomans 14:15; 1 Corinthians 8:11 heldJob 29:10, 32:15; Matthew 22:12; Romans 3:19ReciprocalGenesis 17:13 - bought; 31:15 - sold us; 37:27 - sell him; Exodus 21:2 - an Hebrew; Leviticus 25:48 - General; 25:50 - price of his sale; Deuteronomy 28:68 - there ye shall; Nehemiah 9:37 - dominion; Job 6:23 - Redeem; Psalm 44:12 - increase; Ecclesiastes 10:19 - but; Amos 8:6 - General; Zechariah 11:5 - sell; Matthew 5:22 - his brother; 18:25 - commanded; Acts 11:29 - every; 1 Corinthians 6:6 - brother; Ephesians 6:9 - ye; Revelation 18:13 - slaves Verse 9It is not1 Samuel 2:24; Proverbs 16:29, 17:26, 18:5, 19:2, 24:23 walkNehemiah 5:15; Genesis 20:11, 42:18; Leviticus 25:36; Acts 9:31 reproachGenesis 13:7, 13:8; 2 Samuel 12:14; Ezekiel 36:20; Romans 2:24; 1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 2:12ReciprocalExodus 18:21 - such as; Leviticus 25:17 - fear; Deuteronomy 25:18 - feared; 1 Samuel 17:26 - reproach; 2 Chronicles 13:5 - Ought ye not; Psalm 89:41 - he is; Proverbs 16:6 - by the; 1 Corinthians 6:6 - brother; Ephesians 5:21 - in; 6:9 - ye; Colossians 3:22 - fearing; Titus 2:8 - that he Verse 10I likewiseMicah 2:1; Luke 3:13, 3:14; 1 Corinthians 9:12-18 I pray you2 Corinthians 5:11, 5:20, 6:1; Philemon 1:8, 1:9 leaveNehemiah 5:7; Exodus 22:25-27; Psalm 15:5; Ezekiel 18:8, 18:13ReciprocalIsaiah 58:6 - to loose; Ezekiel 45:9 - remove; Matthew 18:28 - and took Verse 11RestoreLeviticus 6:4, 6:5; 1 Samuel 12:3; 2 Samuel 12:6; Isaiah 58:6; Luke 3:8 their landsNehemiah 5:3, 5:4 the hundredthThis was probably the rate of interest which they obliged their poor debtors to pay each month, which would amount to about 12 percent. Another author states that this is the lowest rate of interest in Syria: the usual rate is 20; and it is sometimes as high as 30 percent.ReciprocalExodus 22:25 - General; Matthew 18:28 - and took Verse 12We will restore2 Chronicles 28:14, 28:15; Ezra 10:12; Matthew 19:21, 19:22; Luke 19:8 I calledNehemiah 10:29, 13:25; 2 Kings 23:2, 23:3; 2 Chronicles 6:22, 6:23, 15:13, 15:14; Ezra 10:5; Jeremiah 34:8-10; Matthew 26:63Reciprocal2 Kings 11:4 - took an oath; 11:17 - made a covenant; 2 Chronicles 23:16 - made a covenant; Matthew 6:12 - as Verse 13I shook my lapSo "when the Roman ambassadors entered the senate of Carthage, they had their toga gathered up in their bosom, and said, We carry here peace and war; you may have which you will. The senate answered, You may give which you please. They then shook their toga, and said, We bring you war." - Livy. Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:51, 18:6 So God1 Samuel 15:28; 1 Kings 11:29-31; Zechariah 5:3, 5:4 emptiedHeb. empty, or voidAmenNumbers 5:22; Deuteronomy 27:14-26 praised1 Chronicles 16:36 the people2 Kings 23:3; Psalm 50:14, 76:11, 119:106; Ecclesiastes 5:5Reciprocal2 Kings 11:17 - made a covenant; 2 Chronicles 15:14 - sware; 23:16 - made a covenant; Nehemiah 8:6 - Amen; 10:29 - entered; 13:25 - cursed; Proverbs 21:13 - at; Matthew 6:12 - as; Mark 6:11 - whosoever; Luke 9:5 - shake; Revelation 19:4 - Amen Verse 14from the twentiethNehemiah 2:1, 13:6 I and my1 Corinthians 9:4-15, 9:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:8, 3:9 the breadEzra 4:13, 4:14; Romans 13:6, 13:7ReciprocalJudges 8:29 - in his own house; 2 Samuel 23:3 - ruling; Nehemiah 2:6 - I set him a time; 5:18 - required; Haggai 1:1 - governor; Matthew 25:16 - went; John 8:14 - yet; 2 Corinthians 12:18 - in the same steps Verse 15even their1 Samuel 2:15-17, 8:15; Proverbs 29:12 so didMatthew 5:47; 2 Corinthians 11:9, 12:13 becauseNehemiah 5:9; Job 31:23; Psalm 112:1, 147:11; Proverbs 16:6; Ecclesiastes 12:13, 12:14; Isaiah 50:10; Luke 18:2-4ReciprocalGenesis 20:11 - Surely; 22:12 - now; 39:9 - sin; 42:18 - I fear God; Exodus 1:17 - feared God; 20:20 - his fear; Leviticus 19:14 - fear; 25:17 - fear; 25:36 - fear; Deuteronomy 25:18 - feared; Judges 8:29 - in his own house; 1 Samuel 2:16 - I will take; 1 Kings 18:3 - feared the Lord; 2 Chronicles 19:7 - let the; Nehemiah 4:16 - my servants; 5:18 - required; 7:2 - feared God; Job 1:8 - one; Psalm 19:9 - The fear; 26:11 - I will; 119:161 - my heart; Proverbs 3:7 - fear; 14:16 - feareth; 28:16 - prince; Lamentations 5:8 - Servants; Ezekiel 18:8 - hath withdrawn; Zephaniah 1:9 - which; Malachi 3:5 - fear; Acts 9:31 - and walking; Ephesians 5:21 - in; Colossians 3:22 - fearing; 1 Thessalonians 2:9 - chargeable Verse 16I continuedLuke 8:15; Romans 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9 neither boughtNumbers 16:15; Acts 20:33-35; 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 2:6 all my2 Corinthians 12:16-18; Philippians 2:20, 2:21ReciprocalNehemiah 4:16 - my servants; 4:23 - So neither I Verse 17MoreoverHe kept open house, and entertained all comers; besides having 150; Jews, who had their food constantly at his table, and at his expense.at my table2 Samuel 9:7, 9:13; 1 Kings 18:19 an hundredIsaiah 32:8; Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9, 4:10Reciprocal1 Kings 4:23 - Ten fat; Ecclesiastes 5:11 - they; Isaiah 3:7 - neither bread Verse 18Now that1 Kings 4:22, 4:23 one oxThis was food sufficient for more than two hundred men. Bp. Pococke says that the bey of Tunis had daily twelve sheep, with fish and fowls, soups, oranges, eggs, onions, boiled rice, etc., etc. His nobles dined with him; after they had done, the servants sat down; and when they had finished, the poor took what was left. Here the bey's twelve sheep are equal to Nehemiah's one ox and six choice sheep; and probably the mode of living between the two was nearly alike. It is still the practice in the East to calculate the expenses of the table, not by the money paid, but by the provisions consumed by the guests.requiredNehemiah 5:14, 5:15 because the bondagePsalm 37:21, 37:26ReciprocalEcclesiastes 5:11 - they; Isaiah 3:7 - neither bread; 1 Thessalonians 2:9 - chargeable Verse 19ThinkNehemiah 13:14, 13:22, 13:31; Genesis 40:14; Psalm 25:6, 25:7, 40:17, 106:4; Jeremiah 29:11 according toPsalm 18:23-25; Matthew 10:42, 25:34-40; Mark 9:41Reciprocal2 Kings 20:3 - remember; Nehemiah 6:14 - My God; 7:5 - my God; Psalm 119:159 - Consider; Isaiah 38:3 - Remember; Jeremiah 15:15 - remember; 24:6 - For I will; Hosea 9:17 - My God; Philippians 4:19 - God; 2 Timothy 1:16 - Lord; Habakkuk 3:1 - to forget