Geneva Study Bible And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives {a} against their brethren the Jews.
(a) Against the rich who oppressed them. For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up {b} corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
(b) This is the complaint of the people, showing the extremity they were brought to. Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's {c} tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
(c) To pay our tribute to the king of the Persians, which was exacted yearly from us. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. Yet now our flesh is as {d} the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power {e} to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
(d) By nature the rich are no better than the poor. (e) We are not able to redeem them, but out of poverty are forced to sell them to others. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye {f} exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great {g} assembly against them.
(f) You press them with usury, and seek to bring all thing into your hands. (g) Both because they should be moved with pity seeing how many were oppressed by them, and also hear the judgment of others, who should be witnesses of their dealings with their brethren. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be {h} sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
(h) Seeing God has once delivered them from the bondage of the heathen, shall we make them our slaves? Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? {i} Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the {k} reproach of the heathen our enemies?
(i) Meaning, Nehemiah. (k) Who by this occasion will blaspheme the Name of God, seeing that our actions are no better than theirs. I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, {l} that ye exact of them.
(l) Which you take from them for the loan. 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 should do according to this promise. 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 should do according to this promise.
Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise. Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the {m} bread of the governor.
(m) I did not receive the portion and diet which the governors who were before me exacted, in which he declares that he rather sought the wealth of the people than his own convenience. But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us. Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of {n} all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
(n) While at other times they had by measure, at this time they had most liberally. Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people. Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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