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11 And our adversaries said, They || and your daughters, your wives, and A. M. 3559. shall not know, neither see, till we your houses. come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, 5 From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.

13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the LORD, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons,

k

m

15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to naught, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

Or, That from all places ye must return to us.- - Heb. from Num. xiv. 9; Deut. i. 29. Deut. x. 17.-12 Sam. x. 12. the lower parts of the places, &c.

the rubbish, and therefore we must desist for a season. Can Judah, that warlike, valiant tribe, speak thus? Active, leading men, have many times as much to do to grapple with the fears of their friends as with the terrors of their enemies.

Verse 11. Our adversaries said, They shall not know, &c.—Their enemies resolved not to appear with an army before Jerusalem, but to march so secretly that the Jews should have no notice of their approach till they saw them in the city, armed and prepared to attack them suddenly, and put them to the sword.

m Job v. 12.

the towers which were built here and there upon the wall, whence they might shoot arrows, or throw stones.

Verse 14. I said unto the nobles, Be not afraid of them-All was at stake; therefore he exhorts them to be valiant, trusting in God. Remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, &c.-You think your enemies are great and terrible; but what are they in comparison with God? especially in opposition to him?

Verse 15. When our enemies heard that it was known unto us-When they heard that their plot was discovered, and they had no hope to surprise us, but found that we were ready to receive them, they laid aside their designs, and we went on with our work.

Verse 16. It came to pass from that time forth— Lest our enemies should repeat their enterprise; that the half of my servants wrought in the work— Of my domestic servants, and of my guards, who should have attended upon my own person. And the other half held the spears, the shields, &c.—That is, all their weapons: they stood in their arms, prepared for battle. And the rulers were behind allPartly to encourage them in their work, sometimes assisting them with their own hands; and partly to direct and command them in case of an assault.

Verse 12. And the Jews which dwelt by them— Who were neighbours to that people; or dwelt among them, as the words may be rendered, whereby they became acquainted with their counsels. They said unto us ten times-That is, they came and informed us very often, for ten times, in Scripture, signifies a great many times. From all places whence ye shall return unto us, &c.-That is, they will attack you by all the ways by which we can come to you, or you to us, or wherever there is any communication between you and us; therefore take care to keep watches on every side. Hence it appears, that though those Jews, who dwelt near or among the Samaritans, had not zeal enough to induce them to come to Jerusalem to help their brethren in building the wall; yet, having discovered the enemies' design, they had so much honesty, and af- Verse 17. Every one with one of his hands fection to the cause, as to give intelligence of it: wrought in the work, and with the other held a weanay, that their information might be the more credit-pon-That is, they were well prepared either to ed, they came themselves to make them acquainted with it, repeating it many times, as men in earnest, and under a concern to have it believed.

Verse 13. Therefore, in the lower places behind the wall-Within the walls, where they were not yet raised to their due height, and therefore most liable to the enemies' assault. On the higher places-Upon the tops of the walls, where they were finished, and

build or fight; for the expression is figurative, it not being possible for them to work, if both hands had not been at liberty. Accordingly the next verse says, Every one had his sword girded by his side. Thus must we work out our salvation, with the weapons of our warfare in our hands. For in every duty we must expect opposition from our spiritual enemies.

The poor complain of

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A. M. 3559. 18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.

20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: "our God shall fight for us.

'Heb. on his loins.

- Exod. xiv. 14, 25; Deut. i. 30; iii. 22;
xx. 4; Josh. xxiii. 10.

Verse 18. He that sounded the trumpet was by me -To give the alarm, and call the people together, when and where it was necessary. It appears by this he was continually with them while they wrought upon the wall.

oppression by the rich.

21 So we laboured in the work: and A. M. 3559. B. C. 445. half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. 22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.

23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.

8

Or, every one went with his weapon for water, Judges v. 11.

their work in the morning: but now he would have them all lodge in Jerusalem, for the greater security of the city; and in turns to watch by night, or work on the walls by day.

Verse 23. None of us put off our clothes-Neither Verses 21, 22. Half of them held the spears-For by day nor by night, as the manner is when people the use of every man, if there should be occasion. go to rest, but they constantly kept themselves in From the rising of the morning till the stars ap-readiness to fight, if any assault were made on the peared-Working very early and very late. Let city. Saving that every one put them off for washevery one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem ing-When they were to wash and cleanse them-Not in the suburbs or adjoining villages, as proba- selves from some impurity, which might befall them bly many of them had done, returning thence to or their garments.

CHAPTER V.

The poor complain of being oppressed by the rich, 1-5. Nehemiah removes the oppression, 6-13. He sets an example of compassion on the poor, 14-19.

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1.13559. AND there was a great cry of the take up corn for them, that we may A. M. 3559. people and of their wives against || eat, and live.

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their brethren the Jews.

2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we

a Isa. v. 7.

NOTES ON CHAPTER V.

Verse 1. There was a great cry of the people, &c. Of the poor against their rich brethren, who had oppressed them; for though the people in general were cured of their idolatry by their captivity, yet they were not cured of their other sins, but loved strange women, as we read before in the book of Ezra; and were so covetous that they oppressed the poor and needy; and this at a time when their enemies threatened the destruction of them all. This crime was the more heinous, because the twentieth of Artaxerxes, when this was done, began about the end of a sabbatic year, (as Dr. Alix observes,) which raised the cry of the poor to a greater height against their creditors, who exacted their debts of them contrary to the law. Deut. xv. 2; which was read to them publicly in such a year, Deut. xxxi. 12. Verse 2. We, our sons, and our daughters, are

3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

b Lev. xxv. 35, 37; Deut. xv. 7. many-Which indeed is in itself a blessing, but to us is turned into a curse. The families that were most necessitous were most numerous. Those who have great families and little substance must learn to live by faith in God's providence and promises: and those who have little families and great substance must make their abundance a supply for the wants of others. We take up corn for them, that we may eat and live-That is, we are compelled by our and their necessities to take up corn on unreasonable terms. Or, the sense of the words may be, Where, or how, shall we get corn, that we may eat and live?

Verse 3. Because of the dearth-Not long before this, there had been a great scarcity of corn through want of rain, which God had withheld as a punishment for the people's taking more care to build their own houses than his temple, as we read Haggai i. 9-11. And, in this time of scarcity the rich had no

Nehemiah inquires into the

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4 There were also that said, We || buked the nobles, and the rulers, and A. M. 3559 have borrowed money for the king's said unto them, Ye exact usury, every tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. one of his brother. And I set a great assembly 5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our against them. brethren, our children as their children: and lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

d

6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

8 And I said unto them, We, after our ability, have fredeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.

9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because

7 Then I consulted with myself, and I re- of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

Isa. lviii. 7.-d Exod. xxi. 7; Lev. xxv. 39.——1Heb. my heart consulted in me.e Exod. xxii. 25; Lev. xxv. 36; Ezek.

compassion on their poor brethren, who were forced to part with all they had for bread. And this dearth | was now increased, from the multitude of the people in and near Jerusalem; from their work, which wholly took them up, and kept them from taking care of their families; and from the expectation of their enemies' invasion, which hindered them from going abroad to fetch provision, and the people round about from bringing it to them.

Verse 4. We have borrowed money for the king's tribute-Which was laid upon them all, Ezra iv. 13, and vii. 24. Houbigant renders the last part of this verse, for the king's tribute on our lands and vineyards.

xxii. 18. Lev. xxv. 48.- - Lev. xxv. 36.-2 Sam. xii. 14; Rom. ii. 24; 1 Pet. ii. 12.

with myself, what was best to be done. And I rebuked the nobles and rulers-Who were the moneyed men, and whose power, perhaps, made them more bold to oppress; and said, You exact usury every one from his brother-Which was against the plain and positive law of God, (Deut. xxiii. 19, 20,) especially in this time of public calamity and dearth. And I set a great assembly against them—I called a public congregation, both of the rulers and people, the greatest part whereof were free from this guilt, and therefore more impartial judges of the matter, and I represented it to them, that the offenders might be convinced and reformed; if not for fear of God, or love of their brethren, yet at least for the public shame, and the cries of the poor. Ezra and Nehemiah were both good and useful men; but of how different tempers! Ezra was a man of a mild, tender spirit, and when told of the sin of the rulers, rent his clothes and wept. Nehemiah forced them to reform, being of a warm and eager spirit. So God's work may be done, and yet different methods taken in doing it; which is a good reason why we should not arraign the management of others, nor make our own a standard.

Verse 5. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren-We are of the same nature, nation, and religion with them; nor is there any other difference between us, but that they are rich and we are poor; and yet they treat us as if we were beasts or heathen, forgetting both humanity and God's law, Deut. xv. 7. And our children as their children—As dear to us as their children are to them; and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and daughters-We are compelled to sell them for our subsistence. In case of great necessity this was lawful: but those Jews were Verse 8. We, after our ability, have redeemed our very void of compassion who forced their brethren brethren-Nehemiah and his predecessors had used to do what was so much against nature. And it was their utmost interest and power with the kings of especially distressing that they were driven to such Persia, that their brethren might be redeemed from an extremity as to be under a necessity of selling bondage, whereby they had been restored both to even their daughters for slaves, being more tender their liberty and to their own country. And it is and weak, and unfit for servitude, and more exposed probable they had, with their money, procured the to injuries than their sons. Neither is it in our freedom of such as were slaves to some of the Babypower to redeem them-None being willing to lend lonians, who would not part with them without a us money, and our lands being mortgaged to our price paid for them. Shall they be sold unto us?— oppressors. It was an aggravation of the sin of these Do you expect that we should pay you a price for oppressing Jews, that they were themselves so late-them, as we did to the Babylonians? Or must we ly delivered out of the house of bondage, which surely obliged them in gratitude to undo the heavy burdens, Isa. lviii.

Verses 6, 7. Then I was very angry-Grieved exceedingly at this sin of the nobles. Then I consulted with myself.-I restrained the emotions of my mind, being afraid to do any thing in a fit of anger or vexation, and coolly considered, and deliberated

use as much importunity to solicit you for their redemption as we used with their enemies? Then held they their peace-They made no reply, because they could neither deny the fact nor justify it, an express law of God being against them.

Verse 9. It is not good that ye do-Though you get money by it, you contract guilt, and expose yourselves to the displeasure of God; might ye not to

Nehemiah removes the

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A. M. 3559. 10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

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.

12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.

walk in the fear of our God?-Certainly you ought, for you profess religion and relation to him; and if you do walk in his fear, you will neither be covetous of worldly gain, nor cruel toward your brethren. They that live in the fear of God, will not dare to do an ill thing. Because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies-Who are round about you, and are enemies to us, our God, and our religion. They observe all your actions, and will reproach both you for such barbarous usage of your brethren, and religion for your sakes.

Verse 10. Ilikewise, and my brethren—In office; who are employed with me in the government of this people; and my servants-In my name and for my Use; might exact of them money and corn—As a just recompense for our pains and care for the public good, to which we wholly devote ourselves, even to the neglect of all our private concerns. But I freely remit my own right, and therefore you also ought to remit yours, seeing I lay no burden upon you but what I am willing to bear a part of upon my own shoulders.

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13 Also I shook my lap, and said, A. M. 3559. So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and 2 emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land. of Judah, from the twentieth year m 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.

God's name, it might make the more deep and durable impression upon their consciences.

Verse 13. Also I shook my lap-The extreme parts of my garment, which I first folded together, and then shook it and scattered it asunder. This was one form of swearing then in use. So God shake every man from his house, &c.—Thus he represented, by an external sign, as the manner of the prophets often was, how God would cast them out of their possessions, and of the fruit of their labours, who did not observe this oath. And all the congregation said, Amen!—God so influenced the people's hearts, that even they who had been guilty of taking usury consented to this imprecation, and wished this mischief to themselves, if they did not do as he required. And praised the Lord-So far were they from promising with regret, that they promised and even took an oath to do as he desired, with all possible expressions of joy and gladness, and with thankfulness to God for giving them such a good governor, and inclining them to submit to him.

Verse 14. Moreover, from the time that I was apVerse 11. Restore their land, &c.-Give them up pointed governor-He had mentioned his own practheir mortgages, put them again in possession of tice, as an inducement to the nobles not to burden their estates, remit the interest, and give them time the poor, no, not with just demands; and he here to pay the principal. I pray you-Though he had relates more particularly what his practice was, not authority to command, yet, for love's sake, he rather through pride or vain glory, but to excite both his beseeches. Also the hundredth part of the money-successors, and the inferior magistrates, to be as tenRequire not this, as the next verse explains it, where der as might be of the people's ease. Twelve years it is expressed in their grant of this desire. The-Not that he had continued so long at one time at hundredth part of the money lent was wont to be Jerusalem; but he had so long governed the Jews, required every month for the use of it, according to by himself when present, and in his absence by the custom then prevailing in those countries, and deputies. I and my brethren-My fellow-officers afterward adopted by the Romans. So that every and deputies, who, as they were to do my work, year an eighth part of the principal was paid for in- might have required my rights; have not eaten the terest, which was a very extravagant usury. bread of the governor-Have not taken that allowVerse 12. Then said they, We will restore them-ance which, by the laws of God and nations, and of Namely, the houses and lands; and require nothing -Demand no interest. Thus he got a promise from them, and proceeded afterward to bring them under the obligation of an oath to do as they had promised. Then I called the priests-As witnesses; that the oath being taken before the priests, who acted in

the king of Persia, the governors might require. It is perfectly reasonable that they who do the public business should be maintained at the public charge. But Nehemiah would not accept that maintenance, because he saw it would be burdensome to his countrymen; but either lived upon his own estates, which

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15 But the former governors that had || those that came unto us from among A. M. 3559. been before me were chargeable unto the heathen that are about us. the people, and had taken of them bread and 18 Now that which was prepared for me wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even daily was one ox and six choice sheep; their servants bare rule over the people: but so also fowls were prepared for me, and once did not I, because of the P fear of God. in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work. 17 Moreover, there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides

•2 Cor. xi. 9; xii. 13. - Verse 9.- -9 2 Sam. ix. 7; 1 Kings xviii. 19.- 1 Kings iv. 22.- - Verses 14, 15.- Ch. xiii. 22.

CHAPTER VI.

Nehemiah's answer to his enemies, courting him to an interview, 1-4. To their charge of rebellion, 5–9. To Shemarah's false prophecy, 10-14. Notwithstanding the treachery of some of the nobles, the work is finished, 15–19.