21 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Ezra 5 In this chapter is a complaint of the poor against the rich for oppression of them, Ne 5:1 for which Nehemiah being angry, reproved them, and made them promise, and swear to it, to make restitution, Ne 5:6 and set them an example himself, taking nothing of them during his twelve years' government, supporting himself and his...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
How bravely Nehemiah, as a wise and faithful governor, stood upon his guard against the attacks of enemies abroad, we read in the foregoing chapter. Here we have him no less bold and active to redress grievances at home, and, having kept them from being destroyed by their enemies, to keep them from destroying one another. Here is, I. The complaint...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And I was very angry when I heard their cry, and these words. Their complaint expressed in this manner; it not only raised pity and compassion in his breast towards these poor distressed people, but indignation at the rich that oppressed them.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Then I consulted with myself,.... What was to be done, what method to be taken to redress such grievances: and I rebuked the nobles and the rulers; who were the men that monopolized the corn in this dear season, and sold it at an extravagant price, and had got the lands, vineyards, and houses of the poor mortgaged to them, and to whom they had...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And I said unto them,.... The nobles, and rulers, and other rich persons that exacted usury of the poor: we after our ability; speaking of himself in the plural number, which now obtained in the court of Persia; or of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and others, who, according as their worldly circumstances, having been captives, would admit of: have redeemed...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Also I said, it is not good that ye do,.... The meaning is, that it was very bad; it is a "meiosis", by which more is intended than is expressed: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God; in reverence of him and his law, and according to that: because of the reproach of the Heathen our enemies? whose mouths will be open to reproach the true...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn,.... For our maintenance, in consideration of the services done by us, which would appear but reasonable, but this we decline for the sake of easing our poor brethren: I pray you let us leave off this usury; and not exact it, as has been too much and too long used.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Restore, I pray you, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses,.... Which they had made over to them for corn they had had, or money they borrowed of them; it is entreated that an immediate restitution be made, and the rather, if what Aben Ezra observes is true, that this was the year of release, when debts...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Then said they, we will restore them,.... The lands, vineyards, oliveyards, and houses: and will require nothing of them; not the hundredth part of the fruits of the earth by way of salary: so will we do as thou sayest; they approved of his proposal, and readily agreed to it: then I called the priests, and took an oath of them that they should do...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Also I shook my lap,.... The fore skirts of his garment, shaking the dust out of them, as a symbol of what follows; a like rite was used in the case of peace and war, the choice of either, by the Romans, as proposed by their ambassadors to the Carthaginians, as having either in their bosom to shake out (l): and said, so God shake out every man...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah,.... That is, by the king of Persia, which was not done when he was first sent into Judea; but very probably when he had finished the wall in fifty two days, he returned to Persia, and gave the king an account of his success, and how things stood in those parts,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
But the former governors, that had been before me, were chargeable to the people,.... Between him and Zerubbabel, for Ezra was no governor; according to the Jewish chronology (m), when Ezra came to Jerusalem, Zerubbabel returned to Babylon, and there died, and his son Methullam was in his stead, and after him succeeded Hananiah his son: and had...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall,.... Of building the wall of Jerusalem; here he gave his constant attendance to direct and encourage the workmen, and see that they kept to their work, and did it well: neither bought we any land; neither he nor the principal men with him, though they could have bought it cheap, but they chose not to...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Moreover, there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers,.... Every day at his own cost, which must be considerable to provide for such a number, and of such rank: besides those that came unto us from among the Heathen that are about us; who were proselytes, and came thither to worship, or on a civil account, to give...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep,.... Or fat ones; of beef and mutton a considerable quantity, abundantly sufficient for his guests and servants, and shows what a good table he kept: also fowls were prepared for me; what number is not said: and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine; the country...