Nehemiah 5:18

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 5:18

Nehemiah 5:18. Now that which was prepared for me daily, &c., was one ox, &c. “It is evident,” says Dr. Dodd, “from the great and daily expenses of Nehemiah, here mentioned, that either he had large remittances from the Persian court, besides his own estate, to answer them; or that he did not continue at Jerusalem for the whole twelve years together; or that, if he did, he did not keep up this expensive way of living all the time, but only during the great and present exigencies of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-19

The greed of the rich (5:1-19)Another problem that Nehemiah dealt with was the tension that had developed over the years between the rich and the poor. Those in financial difficulty borrowed money from the rich to buy food and pay their land taxes to the Persian government. The rich took advantage of them by charging heavy interest. Then, when the poor could not pay, the rich took their land from them in payment, and in some cases took their children as slaves. Troubles increased when a famine... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Nehemiah 5:18

See Nehemiah 5:14 for a longer note that applies to this verse. prepared. At Nehemiah's own cost. wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Nehemiah 5:18

Nehemiah 5:18. Now that which was prepared for me, &c.— Bishop Pococke, in his Travels, vol. 1: p. 266, &c. has given us an account of the way in which the Bey of Tunis lived in 1733; not that his way of living differed from that of other Beys, it should seem; but merely as a curiosity for his readers. After describing some soups taken by him in the morning, he tells us, that he was wont to dine at eleven; that his grandees sat near him; that when they had eaten, others sat down, and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Nehemiah 5:1-19

3. The strife among the workers ch. 5This chapter evidently describes a situation that prevailed for more than the 52 days the wall was under construction (cf. Nehemiah 5:14). The writer probably included it in the text here because it was another situation that threatened to block the fulfillment of God’s will."Up to this point Nehemiah’s challenges as a spiritual leader focused primarily on those outside of Judah. But before the walls were finally rebuilt, he encountered the most difficult... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 5:1-19

Nehemiah’s Measures in alleviation of Poverty1. 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. 2. 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... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Nehemiah 5:14-19

(14-19) Nehemiah’s vindication of his own conduct. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-19

USURYNehemiah 5:1-19WE open the fifth chapter of Nehemiah with a shock of pain. The previous chapter described a scene of patriotic devotion in which nearly all the people were united for the prosecution of one great purpose. There we saw the priests and the wealthy citizens side by side with their humble brethren engaged in the common task of building the walls of Jerusalem and guarding the city against assault. The heartiness with which the work was first undertaken, the readiness of all... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Nehemiah 5:1-19

CHAPTER 5 1. The complaint of oppression (Nehemiah 5:1-5 ) 2. Nehemiah’s rebuke and demands (Nehemiah 5:6-13 ) 3. Nehemiah’s generosity (Nehemiah 5:14-19 ) Nehemiah 5:1-5 . The internal conditions among the toiling people were serious. The work which was done in rebuilding the walls was a labor of love; no wages were paid. As the people were thus engaged their other occupations, including agriculture, had to be neglected. As a result the poor had been driven to mortgage their lands,... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Nehemiah 5:18

5:18 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. read more

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