51 A great protest was mounted by the people, including the wives, against their fellow Jews. 2 Some said, "We have big families, and we need food just to survive." 3 Others said, "We're having to mortgage our fields and vineyards and homes to get enough grain to keep from starving." 4 And others said, "We're having to borrow money to pay the royal tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 Look: We're the same flesh and blood as our brothers here; our children are just as good as theirs. Yet here we are having to sell our children off as slaves - some of our daughters have already been sold - and we can't do anything about it because our fields and vineyards are owned by somebody else."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 5:1-5
Commentary on Nehemiah 5:1-5
(Read Nehemiah 5:1-5)
Men prey upon their fellow-creatures: by despising the poor they reproach their Maker. Such conduct is a disgrace to any, but who can sufficiently abhor it when adopted by professing Christians? With compassion for the oppressed, we should lament the hardships which many in the world are groaning under; putting our souls into their souls' stead, and remembering in our prayers and succours those who are burdened. But let those who show no mercy, expect judgment without mercy.