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Nehemiah Bravely Rebukes Selfishness
This chapter is based on Nehemiah 5.
Nehemiah became aware of the unhappy condition of the poorer
classes of people. Grain was scarce, and in order to get food the poor
had to buy on credit at exorbitant prices. They also had to borrow
money at interest to pay the heavy taxes Persia imposed. To add to
the distress, the wealthier Jews had taken advantage of their need,
enriching themselves.
The Lord had commanded Israel to raise a tithe every third
year for the benefit of the poor and every seventh year to leave the
spontaneous products of the land to those in need. Faithfulness in
devoting these offerings to relieving the poor would have kept fresh
before the people God’s ownership of all, eradicating selfishness
and developing noble character. “You shall not charge interest to
your brother—interest on money or food or anything.”
Deuteronomy
23:19
. “For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I
command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your
brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’”
Deuteronomy
15:11
.
Wealthy Jews had done the very opposite of these commands.
When the poor needed to borrow to pay taxes to the king, the wealthy
had exacted high interest. By taking mortgages they had trapped the
debtors in deep poverty. Many had been forced to sell their sons and
daughters into slavery, and there seemed to be no future before them
but perpetual need and bondage.
At length the people presented their situation to Nehemiah:
“Some of our daughters have been brought into slavery. It is not
in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and
vineyards.”
Nehemiah was indignant. “I became very angry when I heard
their outcry and these words.” He saw that he must take a firm stand
for justice.
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