Nehemiah 5:13

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 5:13

Also I shook my lap ,.... The fore skirts of his garment, shaking the dust out of them, as a symbol of what follows; a like rite was used in the case of peace and war, the choice of either, by the Romans, as proposed by their ambassadors to the Carthaginians, as having either in their bosom to shake out F12 Florus, l. 2. c. 6. Liv. l. 21. c. l8. : and said, so God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour ; what he has got by his labour: that performeth not his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 5:13

Also I shook my lap - This was a significant action frequent among the Hebrews; and something of the same nature was practiced among other nations. "When the Roman ambassadors entered the senate of Carthage, they had their toga gathered up in their bosom. They said, We carry here peace and war; you may have which you will. The senate answered, You may give which you please. They then shook their toga, and said, We bring you war. To which all the senate answered, We cheerfully accept... 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 5:13

Also I shook my lap . Even the taking of the oath did not seem sufficient to the prudent governor. He would strengthen the oath by a malediction, and a malediction accompanied by a symbolical act, to render it the more impressive. Among the nations of antiquity few things were so much dreaded as falling under a curse. The maledictions of Deuteronomy 28:16-44 were the supreme sanction which Moses devised for the Law, whereof he was the promulgator. Curses protected the tombs and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 5:13

Promise-keeping. "And the people did according to this promise." Nehemiah wrote this, we may be sure, with peculiar satisfaction. It would be well if the history of all promises of amendment, etc. could be thus concluded. But it is far otherwise. Men often "say and do not." Even vows made to God in secret or before the Church, and with solemnities resembling those recorded here, are, alas, often broken. In view of such failures it may be profitable for those who are contemplating a solemn... read more

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