And there was a great cry of the people, and of their wives ,.... Those of the poorer sort: against their brethren the Jews ; the rich that oppressed them; and this cry or complaint was made to Nehemiah for redress. read more
For there were that said, we, our sons, and our daughters, are many ,.... Not that they complained of the number of their children, for a numerous offspring was always reckoned a blessing with the Jews; but this they observed to show that their families, being large, required a considerable quantity of food to support them: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat and live ; that is, they were obliged to take it at an exorbitant price, which is the thing complained of; or... read more
Some also there were that said, we have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses ,.... Made them over to others, put them into their hands as pledges for money received of them: that we may buy corn ; for the support of their families: because of the dearth ; or famine; which might be occasioned by their enemies lying in wait and intercepting all provisions that might be brought to them; for this seems not to be the famine spoken of in Haggai 1:10 for that was some years before... read more
There were also that said ,.... Who though they were able to buy corn for their families without mortgaging their estates: yet, say they: we have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards ; for though the priests, Levites, and Nethinims, were exempted from it, yet not the people in common; and some of these were so poor, that they could not pay it without borrowing upon their estates, and paying large usury for it, see Ezra 6:8 read more
Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren ,.... We are of the same nature, nation, stock, and religion: our children as their children; are circumcised as they, and have a right to the same privileges in church and state: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and daughters to be servants ; shall be obliged to it, unless relieved: and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already ; sold to be servants, as they might in case of the poverty of parents, Exodus 21:7 ,... read more
We , our sons , and our daughters , are many - Our families are larger than we can provide for; we are obliged to go in debt; and our richer brethren take advantage of our necessitous situation, and oppress us. The details which are given in the next verse are sufficiently plain. read more
Because of the dearth - About the time of Zerubbabel, God had sent a judicial dearth upon the land, as we learn from Haggai, Haggai 1:9 , etc., for the people it seems were more intent on building houses for themselves than on rebuilding the house of the Lord: "Ye looked for much, and, lo, it is come to little; because of mine house that is waste; and ye run, every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. And I... read more
We have borrowed money - This should be read, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute on our lands and vineyards. They had a tax to pay to the Persian king in token of their subjection to him, and though it is not likely it was heavy, yet they were not able to pay it. read more
We bring in to bondage our sons - The law permitted parents to sell their children in times of extreme necessity, Exodus 21:7 . read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 5:1-5
We have here the tears of the oppressed, which Solomon considered, Eccl. 4:1. Let us consider them as here they are dropped before Nehemiah, whose office it was, as governor, to deliver the poor and needy, and rid them out of the hand of the wicked oppressors, Ps. 82:4. Hard times and hard hearts made the poor miserable. I. The times they lived in were hard. There was a dearth of corn (Neh. 5:3), probably for want of rain, with which God had chastised their neglect of his house (Hag. 1:9-11)... read more