Nehemiah 5:12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 5:6-13

It should seem the foregoing complaint was made to Nehemiah at the time when he had his head and hands as full as possible of the public business about building the wall; yet, perceiving it to be just, he did not reject it because it was unseasonable; he did not chide the petitioners, nor fall into a passion with them, for disturbing him when they saw how much he had to do, a fault which men of business are too often guilty of; nor did he so much as adjourn the hearing of the cause or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 5:12

Then said they, we will restore them ,.... The lands, vineyards, oliveyards, and houses: and will require nothing of them ; not the hundredth part of the fruits of the earth by way of salary: so will we do as thou sayest ; they approved of his proposal, and readily agreed to it: then I called the priests, and took an oath of them that they should do according to this promise ; not that the priests were delinquents, they were not charged with anything of this kind, nor were they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-13

1. Over-population (verse 2); 2. A recent famine (verse 3); and, 3. The weight of taxation, arising from the large amount annually demanded from the province by the Persians in the way of tribute (verse 4). As there is no reason to suppose that the tribute had been augmented recently, this cause must be viewed as constant. The over-population may have arisen, in part, from the influx of immigrants, in part from the narrow extent of the territory which the returned tribes had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-13

Extortion rebuked. Rulers of men have no easy task. No sooner have they provided a remedy for one evil than another presents itself. Nehemiah found this to be the case. He had preserved the city from the enemies outside, and was fast proceeding with the fortifications which would be a permanent protection; but before they were completed a cry arose within which called his attention to dangers quite as threatening. Of what avail to have secured the people from the foreign foe if they were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-13

The rich rebuked for taking advantage of the poor. I. THE POOR . 1. Numbers tend to poverty. "We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live" (verse 2). 2. Borrowing tends to poverty. "We have mortgaged our lands" (verse 3). 3. Taxation tends to poverty. "We have borrowed money for the king's tribute" (verse 4). 4. Poverty may sometimes have cause for protest against injustice. 5. Poverty is experienced by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-13

Error and return. In the very midst of apparent success, when the Church is building its walls and seems likely to be triumphant and secure, there may be an aggravated evil springing up and spreading to its very heart. Such was the case at Jerusalem when the walls of its defence were rising. When priests and people were repairing the defences, there was circulating a deadly mischief within the whole body. We look at— I. THE WORST EVIL FROM WHICH THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-19

An example of successful activity for God. A great practical reformation carried out by a religious ruler on the highest religious principles, and by the strength of religious character. No more difficult task than to deal successfully with such circumstances in which men's selfish interests were involved, .and the monied classes would be against reform. Nehemiah, by his wisdom, boldness, and simple-minded appeal to God, achieved a marvellous success. Notice— I. The direct appeal to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:12

Then they said, We will restore them . Nehemiah's eloquence prevailed, and brought about a "day of sacrifices." The nobles, one and all, agreed not only to give back the interest that they had illegally received on the corn and money borrowed of them, but to restore the forfeited lands and houses, which must have been of far greater value, and to which they were by law fully entitled. "We will restore them," they said, " and will (in future) require nothing of them, neither interest nor... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 5:12

Nehemiah 5:12. Then said they, We will restore them Namely, the houses and lands; and require nothing Demand no interest. Thus he got a promise from them, and proceeded afterward to bring them under the obligation of an oath to do as they had promised. Then I called the priests As witnesses; that the oath being taken before the priests, who acted in God’s name, it might make the more deep and durable impression upon their consciences. 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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 5:6-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 5:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 5:12

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-19

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