Evening on a parched hill terrace in Judah: a farmer and his wife stand at a low stone wall with an empty grain basket between them and two children beside them, dry vines behind, and far off on the ridge the rough line of Jerusalem's half-built wall, under a calm, pale, empty sky.

The Book of

Nehemiah 5

The wall was going up, and the poor were going under.

19 verses≈ 4 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–2The callA cupbearer prays and is sent
3–6The wallBuilt under fire in 52 daysChapter 5
7The peopleThe families remembered
8–10The WordRead, confessed, sworn
11–12The citySettled and dedicated
13The endingPromises broken, reforms again

Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed

About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.

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The Israelites

Nehemiah 5:6–7

In an open square below the half-built wall Nehemiah stands speaking before a large assembly, and a row of gray-bearded nobles in front of him stand with their eyes lowered, saying nothing.

So I called a large assembly against them

and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.

So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?

Nehemiah 5:9

Nehemiah

I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury. Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.”

The nobles

“We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.”

Before the assembly on a calm morning, Nehemiah shakes out the folds of his green wool mantle with both hands, the cloth flung open and empty, as priests in white linen and the people watch.

So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised.

I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

0:31

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Reflect

Your own brothers

The people building God’s wall were being crushed by the people beside them. Who around you carries a burden you could lighten? Write one name and one thing you could give up, or give back.

Nehemiah’s Generosity

Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.

The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.

Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land.

Two kinds of governor

Whiteboard

Same office, opposite use of it. He gives his reason in a few words: “because of my fear of God.”

Question

Quick question

He stood in front of the whole assembly and named the wrong.

What did the nobles do when Nehemiah confronted them?

Nehemiah

Nehemiah

There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided.

But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.

Nehemiah 5:19

Pray

Carry, don’t add

Pray for those crushed by debt or hunger tonight. Ask for a heart that fears God more than it wants gain. And pray for your leaders, and for yourself where you lead: that you would carry burdens rather than add to them.

You’ve experienced

Nehemiah 5

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A verse to carry with you

Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.

Nehemiah 5:19

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