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Nehemiah 5

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And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

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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.

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Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

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There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

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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.

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And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

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Nehemiah 5:1

“And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.”

Study Summary

Internal crisis emerges alongside external threat: "Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish kin." The uprising of the community against internal Jewish exploitation reveals that the restoration effort has exacerbated economic hardship within the community; the diversion of resources and labor to wall reconstruction has worsened the condition of the poor. The explicit mention of women's voices in the outcry indicates that the economic crisis affects entire families, not merely individual males. This internal conflict reveals that successful completion of the wall requires not merely defeating external enemies but addressing the justice concerns within the community itself.

Community Reflections

1
Carlos Rivera (Test User)9h ago
Finding rest in God — Nehemiah 5

The early church would have heard this very differently than we do today. We bring nothing; He provides everything.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narrative arc becomes clear: God is always working redemption, even in the darkest moments.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. God is faithful in every circumstance.. The early church would have heard this very differently than we do today. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what…

Read the note →

Nehemiah 5:1

“And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.”

Study Summary

Internal crisis emerges alongside external threat: "Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish kin." The uprising of the community against internal Jewish exploitation reveals that the restoration effort has exacerbated economic hardship within the community; the diversion of resources and labor to wall reconstruction has worsened the condition of the poor. The explicit mention of women's voices in the outcry indicates that the economic crisis affects entire families, not merely individual males. This internal conflict reveals that successful completion of the wall requires not merely defeating external enemies but addressing the justice concerns within the community itself.

Community Reflections

1
Carlos Rivera (Test User)9h ago
Finding rest in God — Nehemiah 5

The early church would have heard this very differently than we do today. We bring nothing; He provides everything.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narrative arc becomes clear: God is always working redemption, even in the darkest moments.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. God is faithful in every circumstance.. The early church would have heard this very differently than we do today. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what…

Read the note →

Nehemiah 5:1

Internal crisis emerges alongside external threat: "Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish kin." The uprising of the community against internal Jewish exploitation reveals that the restoration effort has exacerbated economic hardship within the community; the diversion of resources and labor to wall reconstruction has worsened the condition of the poor. The explicit mention of women's voices in the outcry indicates that the economic crisis affects entire families, not merely individual males. This internal conflict reveals that successful completion of the wall requires not merely defeating external enemies but addressing the justice concerns within the community itself.