Bible Chapter Summary
Nehemiah 5 Summary
Nehemiah Ends Oppressive Debt
The people cry out about severe economic hardship—they are mortgaging lands, vineyards, and houses to buy grain, and some have sold their children into servitude to pay the king's taxes. Nehemiah is angry and rebukes the nobles and rulers for charging their own people usury. He forces them to swear an oath to restore the mortgaged lands and forgive debts. Nehemiah also demonstrates integrity by refusing the governor's food allowance during his twelve-year tenure.
Key themes
Key verses
Nehemiah 5:1
“And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.”
Nehemiah 5:7
“Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.”
Nehemiah 5:11
“Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.”
Nehemiah 5:14
“Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto 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.”
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