Nehemiah 5:14

NEHEMIAH'S SUMMARY OF HIS CONDUCT AS GOVERNOR

"Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to 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. But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. 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. Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers,[15] a hundred and fifty men, besides those that came unto us from the nations that were round about us. Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days stores of all sorts of wine; yet for all this, I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. Remember unto me, O God, for good, all that I have done for this people."

"That is, twelve years" (Nehemiah 5:14). "These years were 444 to 432 B.C."[16] This verse is clearly retrospective, and from this the usual understanding is that this chapter was written some twelve years after the building of the wall. Shortly before this first term of Nehemiah as governor ended, "He returned to Babylon for a visit."[17] Many scholars have marveled that the "time" set by Nehemiah for his return to Babylon (Nehemiah 2:6) could have included the entire twelve-year term as governor. Evidently, there had been some other arrangement with the king in Babylon that would have extended the time. As Oesterley said, "If more fragments of Nehemiah's memoirs had been preserved, this would have been explained."[18] This is a wise observation, and it would be encouraging if more scholars took into account the fact that all the difficulties which we find in the Bible would doubtless disappear altogether if we had all the facts.

"I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor" (Nehemiah 5:14). This simply means that Nehemiah and his staff did not accept the usual allotments of food and money that the state provided for governors. He was a truly patriotic soul, much as was George Washington, who during the Revolutionary war built and outfitted three naval ships, at his own expense; and he did not seek a reimbursement after he became president. What a pity that the birthday of a president like that should not be accorded a separate celebration, apart from all others.

"The former governors ... were chargeable unto the people" (Nehemiah 5:15). We agree with Whitcomb that, "These were probably the Persians who did not fear God, and we are sure that the one's meant by Nehemiah did not include Zerubbabel."[19]

"Those at my table were a hundred and fifty men" (Nehemiah 5:17). "This included his entire staff, and additionally there were Jews from the surrounding area, who as yet had no homes, who ate at his table, and all of this at his own expense. Compare that with the entertainment by Jezebel of 400 prophets of the Asherah `at her table', besides all of the provisions for their upkeep and livelihood (1 Kings 18:19)."[20] Also Jezebel did that at the expense of the people; and that says nothing of the far greater extravagant expenses of Ahab.

"Besides those that came unto us from the nations that were round about us" (Nehemiah 5:17). This not only meant those who voluntarily elected to return, but it also included those Jews whom the rulers and nobles had sold to the heathen neighbors as slaves, and whom Nehemiah, a wealthy man in his own right, had purchased back and restored to their liberty.

"One ox and six choice sheep" (Nehemiah 5:18). We learned in 1 Kings 4:22,23, that Solomon at his table served thirty oxen and one hundred sheep every day!

"Remember, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people" (Nehemiah 5:19). Naturally, Nehemiah desired that the people would remember what he had done for them; but, "He wanted God to remember too."[21] It is certainly not sinful for a Christian to pray that God will remember the good that he might have done.