mh_parser/vol_split/16 - Nehemiah/Chapter 5.xml

<div2 id="Neh.vi" n="vi" next="Neh.vii" prev="Neh.v" progress="93.77%" title="Chapter V">
<h2 id="Neh.vi-p0.1">N E H E M I A H</h2>
<h3 id="Neh.vi-p0.2">CHAP. V.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Neh.vi-p1">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 which the poor
made to him of the great hardships which the rich (of whom they
were forced to borrow money) put upon them, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.1-Neh.5.5" parsed="|Neh|5|1|5|5" passage="Ne 5:1-5">ver. 1-5</scripRef>. II. The effectual course which
Nehemiah took both to reform the oppressors and to relieve the
oppressed, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.6-Neh.5.13" parsed="|Neh|5|6|5|13" passage="Ne 5:6-13">ver. 6-13</scripRef>. III.
The good example which he himself, as governor, set them of
compassion and tenderness, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.14-Neh.5.19" parsed="|Neh|5|14|5|19" passage="Ne 5:14-19">ver.
14-19</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Neh.vi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5" parsed="|Neh|5|0|0|0" passage="Ne 5" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Neh.vi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.1-Neh.5.5" parsed="|Neh|5|1|5|5" passage="Ne 5:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Neh.5.1-Neh.5.5">
<h4 id="Neh.vi-p1.6">The Complaints of the Poor. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Neh.vi-p1.7">b. c.</span> 445.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Neh.vi-p2">1 And there was a great cry of the people and of
their wives against their brethren the Jews.   2 For there
were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, <i>are</i> many:
therefore we take up corn <i>for them,</i> that we may eat, and
live.   3 <i>Some</i> also there were that said, We have
mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn,
because of the dearth.   4 There were also that said, We have
borrowed money for the king's tribute, <i>and that upon</i> our
lands and vineyards.   5 Yet now our flesh <i>is</i> 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
<i>some</i> of our daughters are brought unto bondage
<i>already:</i> neither <i>is it</i> in our power <i>to redeem
them;</i> for other men have our lands and vineyards.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p3">We have here the tears of the oppressed,
which Solomon considered, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.4.1" parsed="|Eccl|4|1|0|0" passage="Ec 4:1">Eccl. iv.
1</scripRef>. Let us consider them as here they are dropped before
Nehemiah, whose office it was, as governor, to <i>deliver the poor
and needy, and rid them out of the hand of the wicked</i>
oppressors, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.82.4" parsed="|Ps|82|4|0|0" passage="Ps 82:4">Ps. lxxxii. 4</scripRef>.
Hard times and hard hearts made the poor miserable.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p4">I. The times they lived in were hard. There
was a dearth of corn (<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.3" parsed="|Neh|5|3|0|0" passage="Ne 5:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>), probably for want of rain, with which God had
chastised their neglect of his house (<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.9-Hag.1.11" parsed="|Hag|1|9|1|11" passage="Hag 1:9-11">Hag. i. 9-11</scripRef>) and the non-payment of their
church-dues, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Mal.3.9-Mal.3.10" parsed="|Mal|3|9|3|10" passage="Mal 3:9,10">Mal. iii. 9,
10</scripRef>. Thus foolish sinful men bring God's judgments upon
themselves, and then fret and complain of them. When the markets
are high, and provisions scarce and dear, the poor soon feel from
it, and are pinched by it. Blessed be God for the mercy, and God
deliver us from the sin, of <i>fulness of bread,</i> <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.16.49" parsed="|Ezek|16|49|0|0" passage="Eze 16:49">Ezek. xvi. 49</scripRef>. That which made the
scarcity here complained of the more grievous was that their
<i>sons and their daughters were many,</i> <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.2" parsed="|Neh|5|2|0|0" passage="Ne 5:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. The families that were most
necessitous were most numerous; here were the mouths, but where was
the meat? Some have estates and no children to inherit them; others
have children and no estates to leave them. Those who have both
have reason to be thankful; those who have neither may the more
easily be content. Those who have great families and little
substance must learn to live by faith in God's providence and
promise; and those who have little families and great substance
must <i>make their abundance a supply for the wants of others.</i>
But this was not all: as corn was dear, so the taxes were high; the
king's tribute must be paid, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.4" parsed="|Neh|5|4|0|0" passage="Ne 5:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. This mark of their captivity still remained upon
them. Perhaps it was a poll-money that was required, and then,
their sons and their daughters being many, it rose the higher. The
more they had to maintain (a hard case!) the more they had to pay.
Now, it seems, they had not wherewithal of their own to buy corn
and pay taxes, but were necessitated to borrow. Their families came
poor out of Babylon; they had been at great expense in building
them houses, and had not yet got up their strength when these new
burdens came upon them. The straits of poor housekeepers who make
hard shift to get an honest livelihood, and sometimes want what is
fitting for them and their families, are well worthy the
compassionate consideration of those who either with their wealth
or with their power are in a capacity to help them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p5">II. The persons they dealt with were hard.
Money must be had, but it must be borrowed; and those that lent
them money, taking advantage of their necessity, were very hard
upon them and made a prey of them. 1. They exacted interest from
them at twelve per cent, the hundredth part every month, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.11" parsed="|Neh|5|11|0|0" passage="Ne 5:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. If men borrow large sums
to trade with, to increase their stocks, or to purchase land, there
is no reason why the lender should not share with the borrower in
his profit; or if to spend upon their lusts, or repair what they
have so spent, why should they not pay for their extravagances? But
if the poor borrow to maintain their families, and we be able to
help them, it is certain we ought either to lend freely what they
have occasion for, or (if they be not likely to repay it) to give
freely something towards it. Nay, 2. They forced them to mortgage
to them their lands and houses for the securing of the money
(<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.3" parsed="|Neh|5|3|0|0" passage="Ne 5:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), and not only
so, but took the profits of them for interest (<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.5 Bible:Neh.5.11" parsed="|Neh|5|5|0|0;|Neh|5|11|0|0" passage="Ne 5:5,11"><i>v.</i> 5, compare <i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), that by
degrees they might make themselves masters of all they had. Yet
this was not the worst. 3. They took their children for
bond-servants, to be enslaved or sold at pleasure, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.5" parsed="|Neh|5|5|0|0" passage="Ne 5:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. This they complain of most
sensibly, as that which touched them in a tender part, and they
aggravate it with this: "<i>Our children are as their children,</i>
as dear to us as theirs are to them; not only of the same human
nature, and entitled to the honours and liberties of that
(<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Mal.2.10 Bible:Job.31.15" parsed="|Mal|2|10|0|0;|Job|31|15|0|0" passage="Mal 2:10,Job 31:15">Mal. ii. 10; Job xxxi.
15</scripRef>), but of the same holy nation, free-born Israelites,
and dignified with the same privileges. Our flesh carries in it the
sacred seal of the covenant of circumcision, as well <i>as the
flesh of our brethren;</i> yet our heirs must be their slaves, and
<i>it is not in our power to redeem them.</i>" This they made a
humble remonstrance of to Nehemiah, not only because they saw he
was a great man that could relieve them, but a good man that would.
Whither should the injured poor flee for succour but <i>to the
shields of the earth?</i> Whither but to the chancery, to the
charity, in the royal breast, and those deputed by it for relief
against the <i>summum jus</i>—<i>the extremity of the law?</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p6">Lastly, We will leave Nehemiah hearing the
complaint, and enquiring into the truth of the complainants'
allegations (for the clamours of the poor are not always just),
while we sit down and look, (1.) With a gracious compassion upon
the oppressed, and 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 that are burdened, as
burdened with them. (2.) With a gracious indignation at the
oppressors, and abhorrence of their pride and cruelty, who drink
the tears, the blood, of those they have under their feet. But let
those who show no mercy expect <i>judgment without mercy.</i> It
was an aggravation of the sin of these oppressing Jews that they
were themselves so lately delivered out of the house of bondage,
which obliged them in gratitude to <i>undo the heavy burdens,</i>
<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.58.6" parsed="|Isa|58|6|0|0" passage="Isa 58:6">Isa. lviii. 6</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Neh.vi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.6-Neh.5.13" parsed="|Neh|5|6|5|13" passage="Ne 5:6-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Neh.5.6-Neh.5.13">
<h4 id="Neh.vi-p6.3">Grievances of the Poor
Redressed. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Neh.vi-p6.4">b. c.</span> 445.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Neh.vi-p7">6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry
and these words.   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.   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 <i>to answer.</i>
  9 Also I said, It <i>is</i> 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?   10 I likewise, <i>and</i> 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 <i>part</i> of the
money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of
them.   12 Then said they, We will restore <i>them,</i> 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.   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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Neh.vi-p7.1">Lord</span>. And the people did according to this
promise.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p8">It should seem the foregoing complaint was
made to Nehemiah at the time when he had his head and hands as full
as possible of the public business about building the wall; yet,
perceiving it to be just, he did not reject it because it was
unseasonable; he did not chide the petitioners, nor fall into a
passion with them, for disturbing him when they saw how much he had
to do, a fault which men of business are too often guilty of; nor
did he so much as adjourn the hearing of the cause or proceedings
upon it till he had more leisure. The case called for speedy
interposition, and therefore he applied himself immediately to the
consideration of it, knowing that, let him build Jerusalem's walls
ever so high, so thick, so strong, the city could not be safe while
such abuses as these were tolerated. Now observe, What method he
took for the redress of this grievance which was so threatening to
the public.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p9">I. He <i>was very angry</i> (<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.6" parsed="|Neh|5|6|0|0" passage="Ne 5:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>); he expressed a great
displeasure at it, as a very bad thing. Note, It well becomes
rulers to show themselves angry at sin, that by the anger itself
they may be excited to their duty, and by the expressions of it
others may be deterred from evil.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p10">II. He <i>consulted with himself,</i>
<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.7" parsed="|Neh|5|7|0|0" passage="Ne 5:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. By this it
appears that his anger was not excessive, but kept within bounds,
that, though his spirit was provoked, he did not say or do any
thing unadvisedly. Before he rebuked the nobles, he consulted with
himself what to say, and when, and how. Note, Reproofs must be
given with great consideration, that what is well meant may not
come short of its end for want of being well managed. It is the
<i>reproof of instruction</i> that <i>giveth life.</i> Even wise
men lose the benefit of their wisdom sometimes for want of
consulting with themselves and taking time to deliberate.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p11">III. He <i>rebuked the nobles and
rulers,</i> who were the monied men, and whose power perhaps made
them the more bold to oppress. Note, Even nobles and rulers, if
they do that which is evil, ought to be told of it by proper
persons. Let no man imagine that his dignity sets him above
reproof.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p12">IV. He set a great assembly against them.
He called the people together to be witnesses of what he said, and
to bear their testimony (which the people will generally be forward
to do) against the oppressions and extortions their rulers were
guilty of, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.12" parsed="|Neh|5|12|0|0" passage="Ne 5:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>.
Ezra and Nehemiah were both of them very wise, good, useful men,
yet, in cases not unlike, there was a great deal of difference
between their management: when Ezra was told of the sin of the
rulers in marrying strange wives he rent his clothes, and wept, and
prayed, and was hardly persuaded to attempt a reformation, fearing
it to be impracticable, for he was a man of a mild tender spirit;
when Nehemiah was told of as bad a thing he kindled immediately,
reproached the delinquents, incensed the people against them, and
never rested till, by all the rough methods he could use, he forced
them to reform; for he was a man of a hot and eager spirit. Note,
1. Very holy men may differ much from each other in their natural
temper and in other things that result from it. 2. God's work may
be done, well done, and successfully, and yet different methods
taken in the doing of it, which is a good reason why we should
neither arraign the management of others nor make our own a
standard. There are diversities of operation, but the same
Spirit.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p13">V. He fairly reasoned the case with them,
and showed them the evil of what they did. The regular way of
reforming men's lives is to endeavour, in the first place, to
convince their consciences. Several things he offered to their
consideration, which are so pertinent and just that it appeared he
had consulted with himself. He lays it before them, 1. That those
whom they oppressed were their brethren: <i>You exact every one of
his brother.</i> It was bad enough to oppress strangers, but much
worse to oppress their poor brethren, from whom the divine law did
not allow them to <i>take any usury,</i> <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.23.19-Deut.23.20" parsed="|Deut|23|19|23|20" passage="De 23:19,20">Deut. xxiii. 19, 20</scripRef>. 2. That they were but
lately redeemed <i>out of the hand of the heathen.</i> The body of
the people were so by the wonderful providence of God; some
particular persons among them were so, who, besides their share in
the general captivity, were in servitude to heathen masters, and
ransomed at the charge of Nehemiah and other pious and
well-disposed persons. "Now," says he, "have we taken all this
pains to get their liberty out of the hands of the heathen, and
shall their own rulers enslave them? What an absurd thing is this!
Must we be at the same trouble and expense to redeem them from you
as we were to redeem them from Babylon?" <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.8" parsed="|Neh|5|8|0|0" passage="Ne 5:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. Those whom God by his grace has
made free ought not to be again brought under <i>a yoke of
bondage,</i> <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Gal.5.1 Bible:1Cor.7.23" parsed="|Gal|5|1|0|0;|1Cor|7|23|0|0" passage="Ga 5:1,1Co 7:23">Gal. v. 1; 1 Cor.
vii. 23</scripRef>. 3. That it was a great sin thus to oppress the
poor (<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.9" parsed="|Neh|5|9|0|0" passage="Ne 5:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): "<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,
<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.31.13-Job.31.14 Bible:Job.31.23" parsed="|Job|31|13|31|14;|Job|31|23|0|0" passage="Job 31:13,14,23">Job xxxi. 13, 14,
23</scripRef>. 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 (<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.10" parsed="|Neh|5|10|0|0" passage="Ne 5:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), which he enlarges upon
afterwards, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.14-Neh.5.19" parsed="|Neh|5|14|5|19" passage="Ne 5:14-19"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>,
&amp;c. Those that rigorously insist upon their right themselves
will with a very ill grace persuade others to recede from
theirs.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p14">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, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.11" parsed="|Neh|5|11|0|0" passage="Ne 5:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. 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 class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p15">VII. He laid them under all the obligations
possible to do what he pressed them to. 1. He got a promise from
them (<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.12" parsed="|Neh|5|12|0|0" passage="Ne 5:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>): <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> <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.13" parsed="|Neh|5|13|0|0" passage="Ne 5:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. 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 ( <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.27.1-Deut.27.26" parsed="|Deut|27|1|27|26" passage="De 27:1-26">Deut. xxvii.</scripRef>), 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> <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.56.12" parsed="|Ps|56|12|0|0" passage="Ps 56:12">Ps. lvi. 12</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.34.10-Jer.34.11" parsed="|Jer|34|10|34|11" passage="Jer 34:10,11">Jer. xxxiv. 10, 11</scripRef>. Good promises are
good things, but good performances are all in all.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Neh.vi-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.14-Neh.5.19" parsed="|Neh|5|14|5|19" passage="Ne 5:14-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Neh.5.14-Neh.5.19">
<h4 id="Neh.vi-p15.7">The Generosity of Nehemiah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Neh.vi-p15.8">b. c.</span> 445.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Neh.vi-p16">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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p17">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 in 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 class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p18">I. He intimates what had been the way of
his predecessors, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.15" parsed="|Neh|5|15|0|0" passage="Ne 5:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>. 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 class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p19">II. He tells us what had been his own
way.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p20">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> <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.16" parsed="|Neh|5|16|0|0" passage="Ne 5:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. 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> <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.20.35" parsed="|Acts|20|35|0|0" passage="Ac 20:35">Acts xx.
35</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p21">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> (<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.14" parsed="|Neh|5|14|0|0" passage="Ne 5:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>),
did not require it, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.18" parsed="|Neh|5|18|0|0" passage="Ne 5:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>. 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,
<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.16" parsed="|Neh|5|16|0|0" passage="Ne 5:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.17-Neh.5.18" parsed="|Neh|5|17|5|18" passage="Ne 5:17,18"><i>v.</i> 17, 18</scripRef>.
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> <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.4.9" parsed="|1Pet|4|9|0|0" passage="1Pe 4:9">1 Pet. iv. 9</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.vi-p22">III. He concludes with a prayer (<scripRef id="Neh.vi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.5.19" parsed="|Neh|5|19|0|0" passage="Ne 5:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>): <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, <scripRef id="Neh.vi-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.40.5" parsed="|Ps|40|5|0|0" passage="Ps 40:5">Ps. xl. 5</scripRef>. 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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