Nehemiah 5:6-7 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:6-7

Righteous anger. "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." Anger is always dangerous, often evil. The anger is sinful which has its root in selfishness, which is excited by slight causes, or is blended with hatred, or issues in malice or revenge, or lasts long in any form. But there is an anger which is righteous, and the absence of which, so far from being a commendable meekness, may be occasioned... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:7

I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury. So the Vulgate, and most commentators; but Bertheau has shown that the expression used, which is peculiar to Nehemiah, cannot have this meaning, since it is not the taking of usury that has been complained of, or that Nehemiah is especially anxious to stop, but the lending of money upon the security of lands, houses, or children, with its consequences, the forfeiture of the lands and houses, with the enslavement of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:7

Self-consultation "Then I consulted with myself." The power of con-suiting with himself is one of the chief things which distinguish men from brutes. A man can be both the subject and the object of his own thought; as if there were in him two persons—one thinking, feeling, suggesting, etc.; the other observing the processes, judging of their worth, and determining accordingly. "My heart consulted with me," says Nehemiah (translating literally). "Commune with your own heart," says the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 5:7

Ye exact usury - The phrase is unique to Nehemiah, and is best explained by the context, which shows the practice of the rich Jews at the time to have been not so much to lend on usury as to lend on mortgage and pledge. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 5:6-7

Nehemiah 5:6-7. Then I was very angry Grieved exceedingly at this sin of the nobles. Then I consulted with myself I restrained the emotions of my mind, being afraid to do any thing in a fit of anger or vexation and coolly considered, and deliberated with myself, what was best to be done. And I rebuked the nobles and rulers Who were the moneyed men, and whose power, perhaps, made them more bold to oppress; and said, You exact usury every one from his brother Which was against the plain... 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 5:6

children = sons. lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Nehemiah 5:7

Then = And. rulers. See note on Nehemiah 2:16 . exact usury. It was twelve per cent. See Nehemiah 5:11 . one = man. set = appointed. assembly = body [of witnesses. ] Hebrew. kehallah (feminine.) Occurs only here and Deuteronomy 33:4 . against = over. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Nehemiah 5:6

NEHEMIAH MOVED QUICKLY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM"And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself and contended with the rulers and the nobles, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that were sold unto the nations; and would ye even sell your brethren, and should they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Nehemiah 5:7

Nehemiah 5:7. Ye exact usury, &c.— This usury was the more grievous, because it was not only contrary to their law, and demanded at a time when they were hard at work, and their enemies threatening to destroy them all; but, as some have observed, the twentieth of Ahasuerus, wherein this was done, began about the end of a sabbatical year, after the law, which forbad every creature to exact any debt of his neighbour or his brother, Deu 15:2 had been so frequently read. This raised the cry of... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:6-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 5:7

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 5:6-7

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-19

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Nehemiah 5:6

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Nehemiah 5:7

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Nehemiah 5:6

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Nehemiah 5:7

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