Chapter 54—Nehemiah Bravely Rebukes Selfishness
Nehemiah's attention was called to the unhappy condition of the poorer classes of people. There was a scarcity of grain. In order to obtain food the poor were obliged to buy on credit at exorbitant prices. They also were compelled to borrow on interest to pay the heavy taxes imposed by Persia. To add to the distress, the more wealthy among the Jews had taken advantage of their necessities, thus enriching themselves.SS 335.1
The Lord had commanded that every third year a tithe be raised for the benefit of the poor and that every seventh year the spontaneous products of the land be left to those in need. Faithfulness in devoting these offerings to the relief of the poor would have kept fresh before the people God's ownership of all, eradicating selfishness and developing character. “Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of anything.” Deuteronomy 23:19. “For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.” Deuteronomy 15:11.SS 335.2
Wealthy Jews had gone directly contrary to these commands. When the poor were obliged to borrow to pay tribute to the king, the wealthy had exacted high interest. By taking mortgages they had reduced the debtors to deep poverty. Many had been forced to sell their sons and daughters into servitude, and there seemed no prospect before them but perpetual want and bondage.SS 335.3
At length the people presented their condition before Nehemiah: “Some of our daughters have already been enslaved; but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.” RSV.SS 336.1
Nehemiah's soul was filled with indignation. “I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.” He saw that he must take a decided stand for justice.SS 336.2
The oppressors were men of wealth whose support was needed in restoring the city. But Nehemiah sharply rebuked the nobles and rulers, and he set before the people the requirements of God. He called their attention to events in the reign of King Ahaz. Because of their idolatry, Judah had been delivered into the hands of still more idolatrous Israel. The latter had seized women and children, intending to keep them as slaves or sell them to the heathen. Because of the sins of Judah, the Lord had not interposed, but by the prophet Oded He rebuked the victorious army: “You intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as your slaves. Have you not sins of your own against the Lord your God?” 2 Chronicles 28:10, RSV.SS 336.3
Upon hearing these words, the armed men left the captives and spoil before the congregation. Then leading men of Ephraim “took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho ... to their brethren.” Verse 15.SS 336.4
Nehemiah and others had ransomed certain Jews who had been sold to the heathen, and he now placed this course in contrast with the conduct of those who for gain were enslaving their brethren. He himself, invested with authority from the Persian king, might have demanded large contributions for his personal benefit. But instead he had given liberally to relieve the poor. He urged those guilty of extortion to restore the lands of the poor and the increase of money exacted from them, and to lend to them without security or usury.SS 336.5
“We will restore them,” the rulers declared, “and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest.” “And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.”SS 337.1