The Jews complain of grievances
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 succors those who are burdened. But let those who show no mercy, expect judgment without mercy.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-5
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, [are] many: therefore we take up corn [for them], that we may eat, and live. 3 [Some] 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, [and that upon] our lands and vineyards. 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.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
After Nehemiah laid down a stable foundation for the spiritual work, by injecting an active and zealous spirit among the people, and the wall was almost completed, he faced big problems from within, especially because the city had been laid waste socially and spiritually.
This reminds us that whenever we start any service with great zeal, we discover many problems and wrong doing in the life of those we serve. These problems are present but are hidden. Thus, repentance should be gradual, both the servant and those whom he serves should realise the problem and work together to solve it.
The spiritual work should start by laying the foundation, then building the wall, then repairing the wrong doing bit by bit inside the house.
The problem here is that the Jews of Jerusalem were complaining about each other. It is the problem of the social classes, which is present in every generation. The poor Jews were enslaved to the rich Jews. Some of the poor had to pawn their vines and their houses to buy wheat. Others borrowed silver to pay taxes to the kings as the country was occupied. They sold their children and their siblings as slaves to the rich to buy goods.
This irritating phenomenon is a social and spiritual disease; it goes back many years before the time of Nehemiah. This disease can cause a bigger problem than that of the wall, which was destroyed. We should not ignore such problem.
This reminds us that whenever we start any service with great zeal, we discover many problems and wrong doing in the life of those we serve. These problems are present but are hidden. Thus, repentance should be gradual, both the servant and those whom he serves should realise the problem and work together to solve it.
The spiritual work should start by laying the foundation, then building the wall, then repairing the wrong doing bit by bit inside the house.
The problem here is that the Jews of Jerusalem were complaining about each other. It is the problem of the social classes, which is present in every generation. The poor Jews were enslaved to the rich Jews. Some of the poor had to pawn their vines and their houses to buy wheat. Others borrowed silver to pay taxes to the kings as the country was occupied. They sold their children and their siblings as slaves to the rich to buy goods.
This irritating phenomenon is a social and spiritual disease; it goes back many years before the time of Nehemiah. This disease can cause a bigger problem than that of the wall, which was destroyed. We should not ignore such problem.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-5
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, [are] many: therefore we take up corn [for them], that we may eat, and live. 3 [Some] 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, [and that upon] our lands and vineyards. 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.
 | Author: Daoud Lamei Rank: Priest Posted on: 2022-10-03 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.