Nehemiah 5
Lutheran reading notes
In Nehemiah chapter 5, the account continues the story of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls and renewing covenant life. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
Nehemiah 5:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, {are} many: therefore we take up corn {for them}, that we may eat, and live.
Nehemiah 5:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
{Some} also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
Nehemiah 5:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, {and that upon} our lands and vineyards.
Nehemiah 5:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
Yet now our flesh {is} as the flesh of our 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 unto bondage {already}: neither {is it} in our power {to redeem them}; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
Nehemiah 5:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
Nehemiah 5:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {I consulted...: Heb. my heart consulted in me}
Nehemiah 5:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed 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}.
Nehemiah 5:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
Also I said, It {is} not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
Nehemiah 5:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Nehemiah 5:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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 5:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Nehemiah 5:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
Also I shook my lap, and said, 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 emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise. {emptied: Heb. empty, or, void}
Nehemiah 5:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Nehemiah 5:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
But the former governors that {had been} before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
Nehemiah 5:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Nehemiah 5:16 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
Moreover {there were} at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that {are} about us.
Nehemiah 5:17 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
Now {that} which was prepared {for me} daily {was} one ox {and} six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once 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.
Nehemiah 5:18 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
Think upon me, my God, for good, {according} to all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah 5:19 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.