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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>N E H E M I A H</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. V.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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How bravely Nehemiah, as a wise and faithful governor, stood upon his
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guard against the attacks of enemies abroad, we read in the foregoing
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chapter. Here we have him no less bold and active to redress grievances
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at home, and, having kept them from being destroyed by their enemies,
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to keep them from destroying one another. Here is,
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I. The complaint which the poor made to him of the great hardships
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which the rich (of whom they were forced to borrow money) put upon
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. The effectual course which Nehemiah took both to reform the
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oppressors and to relieve the oppressed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:6-13">ver. 6-13</A>.
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III. The good example which he himself, as governor, set them of
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compassion and tenderness,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:14-19">ver. 14-19</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ne5_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne5_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne5_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne5_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne5_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Complaints of the Poor.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 445.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives
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against their brethren the Jews.
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2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters,
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<I>are</I> many: therefore we take up corn <I>for them,</I> that we may
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eat, and live.
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3 <I>Some</I> also there were that said, We have mortgaged our
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lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of
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the dearth.
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4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the
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king's tribute, <I>and that upon</I> our lands and vineyards.
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5 Yet now our flesh <I>is</I> as the flesh of our brethren, our
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children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our
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sons and our daughters to be servants, and <I>some</I> of our
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daughters are brought unto bondage <I>already:</I> neither <I>is it</I> in
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our power <I>to redeem them;</I> for other men have our lands and
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vineyards.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the tears of the oppressed, which Solomon considered,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+4:1">Eccl. iv. 1</A>.
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Let us consider them as here they are dropped before Nehemiah, whose
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office it was, as governor, to <I>deliver the poor and needy, and rid
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them out of the hand of the wicked</I> oppressors,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+82:4">Ps. lxxxii. 4</A>.
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Hard times and hard hearts made the poor miserable.</P>
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<P>
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I. The times they lived in were hard. There was a dearth of corn
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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probably for want of rain, with which God had chastised their neglect
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of his house
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hag+1:9-11">Hag. i. 9-11</A>)
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and the non-payment of their church-dues,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+3:9,10">Mal. iii. 9, 10</A>.
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Thus foolish sinful men bring God's judgments upon themselves, and then
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fret and complain of them. When the markets are high, and provisions
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scarce and dear, the poor soon feel from it, and are pinched by it.
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Blessed be God for the mercy, and God deliver us from the sin, of
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<I>fulness of bread,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+16:49">Ezek. xvi. 49</A>.
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That which made the scarcity here complained of the more grievous was
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that their <I>sons and their daughters were many,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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The families that were most necessitous were most numerous; here were
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the mouths, but where was the meat? Some have estates and no children
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to inherit them; others have children and no estates to leave them.
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Those who have both have reason to be thankful; those who have neither
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may the more easily be content. Those who have great families and
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little substance must learn to live by faith in God's providence and
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promise; and those who have little families and great substance must
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<I>make their abundance a supply for the wants of others.</I> But this
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was not all: as corn was dear, so the taxes were high; the king's
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tribute must be paid,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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This mark of their captivity still remained upon them. Perhaps it was
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a poll-money that was required, and then, their sons and their
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daughters being many, it rose the higher. The more they had to maintain
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(a hard case!) the more they had to pay. Now, it seems, they had not
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wherewithal of their own to buy corn and pay taxes, but were
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necessitated to borrow. Their families came poor out of Babylon; they
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had been at great expense in building them houses, and had not yet got
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up their strength when these new burdens came upon them. The straits of
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poor housekeepers who make hard shift to get an honest livelihood, and
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sometimes want what is fitting for them and their families, are well
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worthy the compassionate consideration of those who either with their
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wealth or with their power are in a capacity to help them.</P>
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<P>
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II. The persons they dealt with were hard. Money must be had, but it
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must be borrowed; and those that lent them money, taking advantage of
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their necessity, were very hard upon them and made a prey of them.
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1. They exacted interest from them at twelve per cent, the hundredth
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part every month,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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If men borrow large sums to trade with, to increase their stocks, or to
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purchase land, there is no reason why the lender should not share with
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the borrower in his profit; or if to spend upon their lusts, or repair
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what they have so spent, why should they not pay for their
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extravagances? But if the poor borrow to maintain their families, and
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we be able to help them, it is certain we ought either to lend freely
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what they have occasion for, or (if they be not likely to repay it) to
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give freely something towards it. Nay,
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2. They forced them to mortgage to them their lands and houses for the
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securing of the money
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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and not only so, but took the profits of them for interest
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:5,11"><I>v.</I> 5, compare <I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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that by degrees they might make themselves masters of all they had. Yet
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this was not the worst.
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3. They took their children for bond-servants, to be enslaved or sold
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at pleasure,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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This they complain of most sensibly, as that which touched them in a
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tender part, and they aggravate it with this: "<I>Our children are as
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their children,</I> as dear to us as theirs are to them; not only of
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the same human nature, and entitled to the honours and liberties of
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that
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+2:10,Job+31:15">Mal. ii. 10; Job xxxi. 15</A>),
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but of the same holy nation, free-born Israelites, and dignified with
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the same privileges. Our flesh carries in it the sacred seal of the
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covenant of circumcision, as well <I>as the flesh of our brethren;</I>
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yet our heirs must be their slaves, and <I>it is not in our power to
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redeem them.</I>" This they made a humble remonstrance of to Nehemiah,
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not only because they saw he was a great man that could relieve them,
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but a good man that would. Whither should the injured poor flee for
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succour but <I>to the shields of the earth?</I> Whither but to the
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chancery, to the charity, in the royal breast, and those deputed by it
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for relief against the <I>summum jus</I>--<I>the extremity of the
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law?</I></P>
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<P>
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Lastly, We will leave Nehemiah hearing the complaint, and enquiring
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into the truth of the complainants' allegations (for the clamours of
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the poor are not always just), while we sit down and look,
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(1.) With a gracious compassion upon the oppressed, and lament the
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hardships which many in the world are groaning under; putting our souls
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into their souls' stead, and remembering in our prayers and succours
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those that are burdened, as burdened with them.
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(2.) With a gracious indignation at the oppressors, and abhorrence of
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their pride and cruelty, who drink the tears, the blood, of those they
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have under their feet. But let those who show no mercy expect
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<I>judgment without mercy.</I> It was an aggravation of the sin of
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these oppressing Jews that they were themselves so lately delivered out
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of the house of bondage, which obliged them in gratitude to <I>undo the
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heavy burdens,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:6">Isa. lviii. 6</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ne5_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne5_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne5_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne5_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne5_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne5_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne5_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne5_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Grievances of the Poor Redressed.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 445.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
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7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and
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the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his
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brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
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8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our
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brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye
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even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held
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they their peace, and found nothing <I>to answer.</I>
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9 Also I said, It <I>is</I> not good that ye do: ought ye not to
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walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the
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heathen our enemies?
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10 I likewise, <I>and</I> my brethren, and my servants, might exact
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of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
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11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands,
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their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the
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hundredth <I>part</I> of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the
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oil, that ye exact of them.
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12 Then said they, We will restore <I>them,</I> and will require
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nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the
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priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according
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to this promise.
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13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man
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from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this
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promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the
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congregation said, Amen, and praised the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>. And the people did
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according to this promise.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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It should seem the foregoing complaint was made to Nehemiah at the time
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when he had his head and hands as full as possible of the public
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business about building the wall; yet, perceiving it to be just, he did
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not reject it because it was unseasonable; he did not chide the
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petitioners, nor fall into a passion with them, for disturbing him when
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they saw how much he had to do, a fault which men of business are too
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often guilty of; nor did he so much as adjourn the hearing of the cause
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or proceedings upon it till he had more leisure. The case called for
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speedy interposition, and therefore he applied himself immediately to
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the consideration of it, knowing that, let him build Jerusalem's walls
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ever so high, so thick, so strong, the city could not be safe while
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such abuses as these were tolerated. Now observe, What method he took
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for the redress of this grievance which was so threatening to the
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public.</P>
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<P>
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I. He <I>was very angry</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>);
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he expressed a great displeasure at it, as a very bad thing. Note, It
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well becomes rulers to show themselves angry at sin, that by the anger
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itself they may be excited to their duty, and by the expressions of it
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others may be deterred from evil.</P>
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<P>
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II. He <I>consulted with himself,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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By this it appears that his anger was not excessive, but kept within
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bounds, that, though his spirit was provoked, he did not say or do any
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thing unadvisedly. Before he rebuked the nobles, he consulted with
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himself what to say, and when, and how. Note, Reproofs must be given
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with great consideration, that what is well meant may not come short of
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its end for want of being well managed. It is the <I>reproof of
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instruction</I> that <I>giveth life.</I> Even wise men lose the benefit
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of their wisdom sometimes for want of consulting with themselves and
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taking time to deliberate.</P>
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<P>
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III. He <I>rebuked the nobles and rulers,</I> who were the monied men,
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and whose power perhaps made them the more bold to oppress. Note, Even
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nobles and rulers, if they do that which is evil, ought to be told of
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it by proper persons. Let no man imagine that his dignity sets him
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above reproof.</P>
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<P>
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IV. He set a great assembly against them. He called the people together
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to be witnesses of what he said, and to bear their testimony (which the
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people will generally be forward to do) against the oppressions and
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extortions their rulers were guilty of,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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Ezra and Nehemiah were both of them very wise, good, useful men, yet,
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in cases not unlike, there was a great deal of difference between their
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management: when Ezra was told of the sin of the rulers in marrying
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strange wives he rent his clothes, and wept, and prayed, and was hardly
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persuaded to attempt a reformation, fearing it to be impracticable, for
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he was a man of a mild tender spirit; when Nehemiah was told of as bad
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a thing he kindled immediately, reproached the delinquents, incensed
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the people against them, and never rested till, by all the rough
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methods he could use, he forced them to reform; for he was a man of a
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hot and eager spirit. Note,
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1. Very holy men may differ much from each other in their natural
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temper and in other things that result from it.
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2. God's work may be done, well done, and successfully, and yet
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different methods taken in the doing of it, which is a good reason why
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we should neither arraign the management of others nor make our own a
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standard. There are diversities of operation, but the same Spirit.</P>
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<P>
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V. He fairly reasoned the case with them, and showed them the evil of
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what they did. The regular way of reforming men's lives is to
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endeavour, in the first place, to convince their consciences. Several
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things he offered to their consideration, which are so pertinent and
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just that it appeared he had consulted with himself. He lays it before
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them,
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1. That those whom they oppressed were their brethren: <I>You exact
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every one of his brother.</I> It was bad enough to oppress strangers,
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but much worse to oppress their poor brethren, from whom the divine law
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did not allow them to <I>take any usury,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+23:19,20">Deut. xxiii. 19, 20</A>.
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2. That they were but lately redeemed <I>out of the hand of the
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heathen.</I> The body of the people were so by the wonderful providence
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of God; some particular persons among them were so, who, besides their
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share in the general captivity, were in servitude to heathen masters,
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and ransomed at the charge of Nehemiah and other pious and
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well-disposed persons. "Now," says he, "have we taken all this pains to
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get their liberty out of the hands of the heathen, and shall their own
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rulers enslave them? What an absurd thing is this! Must we be at the
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same trouble and expense to redeem them from you as we were to redeem
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them from Babylon?"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Those whom God by his grace has made free ought not to be again brought
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under <I>a yoke of bondage,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+5:1,1Co+7:23">Gal. v. 1; 1 Cor. vii. 23</A>.
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3. That it was a great sin thus to oppress the poor
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
|
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"<I>It is not good that you do;</I> though you get money by it, you
|
|
contract guilt by it, and <I>ought you not to walk in the fear of
|
|
God?</I> Certainly you ought, for you profess religion, and relation to
|
|
him; and, if you do walk in the fear of God, you will not be either
|
|
covetous of worldly gain or cruel towards your brethren." Those that
|
|
walk in the fear of God will not dare to do a wicked thing,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+31:13,14,23">Job xxxi. 13, 14, 23</A>.
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4. That it was a great scandal, and a reproach to their profession.
|
|
"Consider <I>the reproach of the heathen our enemies,</I> enemies to
|
|
us, to our God, and to our holy religion. They will be glad of any
|
|
occasion to speak against us, and this will give them great occasion;
|
|
they will say, These Jews, that profess so much devotion to God, see
|
|
how barbarous they are one to another." Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) All that profess religion should be very careful that they do
|
|
nothing to expose themselves to the reproach of those that are without,
|
|
lest religion be wounded through their sides.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Nothing exposes religion more to the reproach of its enemies than
|
|
the worldliness and hard-heartedness of the professors of it.
|
|
|
|
5. That he himself had set them a better example
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
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|
which he enlarges upon afterwards,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:14-19"><I>v.</I> 14</A>,
|
|
|
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&c. Those that rigorously insist upon their right themselves will with
|
|
a very ill grace persuade others to recede from theirs.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
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|
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|
VI. He earnestly pressed them not only not to make their poor
|
|
neighbours any more such hard bargains, but to restore that which they
|
|
had got into their hands,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
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See how familiarly he speaks to them: <I>Let us leave off this
|
|
usury,</I> putting himself in, as becomes reprovers, though far from
|
|
being any way guilty of the crime. See how earnestly, and yet humbly,
|
|
he persuades them: <I>I pray you</I> leave off; and <I>I pray you</I>
|
|
restore. Though he had authority to command, yet, <I>for love's sake,
|
|
he rather beseeches.</I> See how particularly he presses them to be
|
|
kind to the poor, to give them up their mortgages, put them again in
|
|
possession of their estates, remit the interest, and give them time to
|
|
pay in the principal. He urged them to their loss, yet, urging them to
|
|
their duty, it would be, at length, to their advantage. What we
|
|
charitably forgive will be remembered and recompensed, as well as what
|
|
we charitably give.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
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|
VII. He laid them under all the obligations possible to do what he
|
|
pressed them to.
|
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|
|
1. He got a promise from them
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
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|
|
<I>We will restore them.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. He sent for the priests to give them their oath that they would
|
|
perform this promise; now that their convictions were strong, and they
|
|
seemed resolved, he would keep them to it.
|
|
|
|
3. He bound them by a solemn curse or execration, hoping that would
|
|
strike some awe upon them: <I>So let God shake out every man that
|
|
performeth not this promise,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
This was a threatening that he would certainly do so, to which the
|
|
people said <I>Amen,</I> as to those curses at Mount Ebal
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+27:1-26">
|
|
Deut. xxvii.</A>),
|
|
|
|
that their throats might be cut with their own tongues if they should
|
|
falsify their engagement, and that by the dread of that they might be
|
|
kept to their promise. With this <I>Amen</I> the people <I>praised the
|
|
Lord;</I> so far were they from promising with regret that they
|
|
promised with all possible expressions of joy and thankfulness. Thus
|
|
David, when he took God's vows upon him,<I> sang and gave praise,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+56:12">Ps. lvi. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
This cheerfulness in promising was well, but that which follows was
|
|
better: <I>They did according to this promise,</I> and adhered to what
|
|
they had done, not as their ancestors in a like case, who re-enslaved
|
|
those whom a little before they had released,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:10,11">Jer. xxxiv. 10, 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Good promises are good things, but good performances are all in
|
|
all.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ne5_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne5_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne5_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne5_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne5_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ne5_19"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Generosity of Nehemiah.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 445.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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, <I>that is,</I>
|
|
twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the
|
|
governor.
|
|
15 But the former governors that <I>had been</I> 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.
|
|
16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither
|
|
bought we any land: and all my servants <I>were</I> gathered thither
|
|
unto the work.
|
|
17 Moreover <I>there were</I> at my table a hundred and fifty of
|
|
the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among
|
|
the heathen that <I>are</I> about us.
|
|
18 Now <I>that</I> which was prepared <I>for me</I> daily <I>was</I> one ox
|
|
<I>and</I> 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.
|
|
19 Think upon me, my God, for good, <I>according</I> to all that I
|
|
have done for this people.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Nehemiah had mentioned his own practice, as an inducement to the nobles
|
|
not to burden the poor, no, not with just demands; here he relates more
|
|
particularly what his practice was, not inn pride or vain-glory, nor to
|
|
pass a compliment upon himself, but as an inducement both to his
|
|
successors and to the inferior magistrates to be as tender as might be
|
|
of the people's ease.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. He intimates what had been the way of his predecessors,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
He does not name them, because what he had to say of them was not to
|
|
their honour, and in such a case it is good to spare names; but the
|
|
people knew how chargeable they had been, and how dearly the country
|
|
paid for all the benefit of their government. The government allowed
|
|
them <I>forty shekels of silver,</I> which was nearly five pounds (so
|
|
much a day, it is probable); but, besides that, they obliged the people
|
|
to furnish them with <I>bread and wine,</I> which they claimed as
|
|
perquisites of their office; and not only so, but they suffered their
|
|
servants to squeeze the people, and to get all they could out of them.
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
1. It is no new thing for those who are in public places to seek
|
|
themselves more than the public welfare, any, and to serve themselves
|
|
by the public loss.
|
|
|
|
2. Masters must be accountable for all the acts of fraud and injustice,
|
|
violence and oppression, which they connive at in their servants.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He tells us what had been his own way.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. In general, he had not done as the former governors did; he would
|
|
not, he durst not, <I>because of the fear of God.</I> He had an awe of
|
|
God's majesty and a dread of his wrath. And,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The fear of God restrained him from oppressing the people. Those
|
|
that truly fear God will not dare to do any thing cruel or unjust.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It was purely that which restrained him. He was thus generous, not
|
|
that he might have praise of men, or serve a turn by his interest in
|
|
the people, but purely for conscience' sake, because of the fear of
|
|
God. This will not only be a powerful, but an acceptable principle both
|
|
of justice and charity. What a good hand his predecessors made of their
|
|
place appeared by the estates they raised; but Nehemiah, for his part,
|
|
got nothing, except the satisfaction of doing good: <I>Neither bought
|
|
we any land,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Say not then that he was a bad husband, but that he was a good
|
|
governor, who aimed not to feather his own nest. Let us <I>remember the
|
|
words of the Lord,</I> how he said, <I>It is more blessed to give than
|
|
to receive,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+20:35">Acts xx. 35</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. More particularly, observe here,
|
|
|
|
(1.) How little Nehemiah received of what he might have required. He
|
|
did the work of the governor, but he did not <I>eat the bread of the
|
|
governor</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
did not require it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
So far was he from extorting more than his due that he never demanded
|
|
that, but lived upon what he had got in the king of Persia's court and
|
|
his own estate in Judea: the reason he gives for this piece of
|
|
self-denial is, <I>Because the bondage was heavy upon the people.</I>
|
|
He might have used the common excuse for rigour in such cases, that it
|
|
would be a wrong to his successors not to demand his dues; but let them
|
|
look to themselves: he considered the afflicted state of the Jews, and,
|
|
while they groaned under so much hardship, he could not find it in his
|
|
heart to add to their burden, but would rather lessen his own estate
|
|
than ruin them. note, In our demands we must consider not only the
|
|
justice of them, but the ability of those on whom we make them; where
|
|
there is nothing to be had we know who loses his right.
|
|
|
|
(2.) How much he gave which he might have withheld.
|
|
|
|
[1.] His servants' work,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
The servants of princes think themselves excused from labour; but
|
|
Nehemiah's servants, by his order no doubt, were <I>all gathered to the
|
|
work.</I> Those that have many servants should contrive how they may do
|
|
good with them and keep them well employed.
|
|
|
|
[2.] His own meat,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:17,18"><I>v.</I> 17, 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
He kept a very good table, not on certain days, but constantly; he had
|
|
many honourable guests, at least 150 of his own countrymen, persons of
|
|
the first rank, besides strangers that came to him upon business; and
|
|
he had plentiful provisions for his guests, beef, and mutton, and fowl,
|
|
and all sorts of wine. Let those in public places remember that they
|
|
were preferred to do good, not to enrich themselves; and let people in
|
|
humbler stations learn to <I>use hospitality one to another without
|
|
grudging,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+4:9">1 Pet. iv. 9</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. He concludes with a prayer
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Think upon me, my God, for good.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. Nehemiah here mentions what he had <I>done for this people,</I> not
|
|
in pride, as boasting of himself, nor in passion, as upbraiding them,
|
|
nor does it appear that he had occasion to do it in his own
|
|
vindication, as Paul had to relate his like self-denying tenderness
|
|
towards the Corinthians, but to shame the rulers out of their
|
|
oppressions; let them learn of him to be neither greedy in their
|
|
demands nor paltry in their expenses, and then they would have the
|
|
credit and comfort of their liberality, as he had.
|
|
|
|
2. He mentions it to God in prayer, not as if he thought he had hereby
|
|
merited any favour from God, as a debt, but to show that he looked not
|
|
for any recompence of his generosity from men, but depended upon God
|
|
only to make up to him what he had lost and laid out for his honour;
|
|
and he reckoned the favour of God reward enough. "If God do but
|
|
<I>think upon me for good,</I> I have enough." His thoughts to us-ward
|
|
are our happiness,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+40:5">Ps. xl. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
He refers it to God to recompense him in such a manner as he pleased.
|
|
"If men forget me, let my God think on me, and I desire no more."</P>
|
|
|
|
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