Nehemiah
Verse 1. Cry. V. Bede (iii. 21) complains of some pastors who neglect the flock, but exacted revenues. May not the same complaint still be made? Worthington.
EXPLANATIONS
Nehemiah 5
Historical chapter commentary
Nehemiah
Verse 2. Very. Syr. “and our brethren are too numerous” to find meat.—For, and so forth Hebrew Septuagint and so forth “by force.” Abenezra, and so forth—Yet most people explain it in the sense of the Vulg. It was permitted to sell children in extreme distress, Exodus 21:7. Grot. Calmet.
Nehemiah
Verse 3. Let us. Prot. “We have mortgaged.”—Famine, or “hunger.” Bible.
Nehemiah
Verse 4. Let us. Septuagint Mont. “We have borrowed” on usury, contrary to Exodus 22:25. The Jews were still obliged to pay tribute.
Nehemiah
Verse 5. Brethren, who are still in captivity, or we are of the same nature as the rich, ( Calmet.) who so cruelly oppress us. Menochius.
Nehemiah
Verse 7. Against them, as a private rebuke would not suffice. Tirinus.
Nehemiah
Verse 8. Redeemed, by paying the ransom to the Babylonians, or by using all our endeavours to procure the releasement of our brethren. Calmet.—For us. Prot. “or shall they be sold unto us?” Bible.—A true pastor practises what he preaches to others. Worthington.
Nehemiah
Verse 11. For them, to the Persian governors, verse 14. Bible.—Nehemias remits this pension, which was before paid by the people, and exacted by the rich. Wolphius.—Du Moulin asserts that there is no question of usury, which the Jews always abhorred, much less of that which the Romans called the 100th, ( Calmet.) consisting in the payment of 12 per cent, ( Tirinus.) or one every month. Menochius.—Hebrew “Give back to them,” ( Bible.) that they may enjoy those things.
Nehemiah
Verse 12. Oath of them. Priests, in private, ( Menochius.) who were not innocent; ( Tirinus.) or these were witnesses of the oath taken by the rich. Piscator.
Nehemiah
Verse 13. Lap, or skirt of my robes. Tirinus.—Such figurative actions were very common. Thus a Roman ambassador at Carthage, folding up his garment, said he brought peace or war. Livy 21:18. Calmet.—Said. Behold how easily was that effected at Jerusalem, which the Romans could never perfectly bring about, after the most violent riots! Tirinus.
Nehemiah
Verse 14. Not eat, out of pity for the poor. Menochius.—He was supported by the king, ( Calmet.) or by his own patrimony. Bible. verse 11.
Nehemiah
Verse 16. Wall, pleading no exemption, but making my servants work. Calmet.—Though no particular portion was assigned to him, he helped all. Tirinus.—No land, as I might have done, on advantageous terms. Bible.—Rare example of disinterestedness! He praises himself without vanity, only to induce others to follow the same course. So Moses, David, Saint Paul, and others acted. Numbers 12:3. and so forth
Nehemiah
Verse 17. Men, my brethren, not ( Calmet.) Persians. Grot.—Them; ambassadors. Menochius.—If Nehemias behaved with such generosity for twelve years, he must have been very rich; or he received a great pension from the king, or voluntary and abundant contributions from the rich.
Nehemiah
Verse 18. Wines. This was only produced, in abundance, on extraordinary occasions; for the people of the East do not drink wine at every feast. Sirach 31:17. Calmet.—Yearly. Septuagint “Moreover, loaves of extortion I did not seek, because a hard servitude lay upon this people.” Bible.
Nehemiah
Verse 19. Good. A good conscience confidently hopeth for a reward. Worthington.
Nehemiah
“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
Nehemiah
A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces.