Nehemiah 5 Study Notes: Nehemiah Defends the Poor
Poor Jews cry out because famine, debt, and taxes have forced them to mortgage their land and sell their children into slavery. Nehemiah rebukes the nobles for charging interest, and they swear to return what they took. As governor he refuses his food allowance out of reverence for God and asks God to remember him.
General
What contrast did Nehemiah draw before the assembly (Nehemiah 5:8)?
Answer: They had redeemed Jews sold abroad, but the nobles were selling their own
Nehemiah pointed out that he and others had done all they could to buy back fellow Jews who had been sold to foreigners, yet now the nobles were selling their own brothers, who would then have to be bought back by the community again (5:8). The accused had no answer and stayed silent (5:8). The Law gave an Israelite sold to a foreigner the right to be redeemed, that is, bought back, by a relative (Leviticus 25:47-49), and it said that Israelites, as the LORD’s servants whom He brought out of Egypt, must not be sold into slavery (Leviticus 25:42).
- Nehemiah 5:8 (BSB)“and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.”Nehemiah contrasts the buying back of Jews from foreigners with the nobles’ selling of their own brothers, and the nobles fall silent.
- Leviticus 25:42 (BSB)“Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves.”Israelites were the LORD’s servants and were not to be sold into slavery.
- Leviticus 25:47-49 (BSB)“If a foreigner residing among you prospers, but your countryman dwelling near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan, he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his brothers may redeem him: either his uncle or cousin or any close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he prospers, he may redeem himself.”The Law gave an Israelite sold to a foreigner the right to be redeemed by a relative.
Theological
What contrast did Nehemiah set before the assembly (Nehemiah 5:8)?
Answer: They had redeemed Jews sold abroad, but the nobles were selling their own
Nehemiah exposes the absurdity: the community has worked to redeem Jews sold to foreigners, while the nobles sell their own brothers, who must then be redeemed again (5:8). The accused have no reply (5:8). The Law provided for the redemption of an Israelite sold to a foreigner by his kinsman (Leviticus 25:47-49) and forbade selling Israelites into slavery at all, since they were the LORD’s servants brought out of Egypt (Leviticus 25:42).
- Nehemiah 5:8 (BSB)“and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.”Nehemiah contrasts the buying back of Jews from foreigners with the nobles’ selling of their own brothers, and the nobles fall silent.
- Leviticus 25:42 (BSB)“Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves.”Israelites were the LORD’s servants and were not to be sold into slavery.
- Leviticus 25:47-49 (BSB)“If a foreigner residing among you prospers, but your countryman dwelling near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan, he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his brothers may redeem him: either his uncle or cousin or any close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he prospers, he may redeem himself.”The Law gave an Israelite sold to a foreigner the right to be redeemed by a relative.
General
Instead of enriching himself as governor, what did Nehemiah do (Nehemiah 5:16-18)?
Answer: He kept at the wall, bought no land, and fed many at his own table
Nehemiah gave himself to building the wall; his servants all joined in the work, and they acquired no land (5:16). Each day his table also fed 150 Jewish men and officials, besides visitors from the nations around, and he lists the ox, sheep, birds, and wine supplied for it. Even so, he did not claim the governor’s food allowance, because the people were already carrying such a heavy load (5:17-18). He spent himself for the people rather than profiting from them. Paul could likewise say that he had coveted no one’s silver or gold and had worked hard to help the weak, recalling the Lord Jesus’ words that giving is more blessed than receiving (Acts 20:33-35). In a chapter where the poor had been oppressed, he lightened their load instead, and being kind to those in need honors their Maker (Proverbs 14:31).
- Nehemiah 5:16-18 (BSB)“Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land. There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.”Nehemiah devotes himself to the wall, acquires no land, and feeds many at his table without claiming the allowance.
- Acts 20:33-35 (BSB)“I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions. In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’””Paul too coveted no one’s silver and worked to help the weak, recalling the Lord Jesus’ words about giving.
- Proverbs 14:31 (BSB)“Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.”Kindness to the needy honors God, while oppressing the poor insults Him.
Theological
How did Nehemiah conduct himself as governor in place of self-enrichment (Nehemiah 5:16-18)?
Answer: He kept at the wall, bought no land, and fed many at his own table
Nehemiah devotes himself to the wall, his servants with him, and they acquire no land (5:16). He supplies a daily table for 150 Jewish men and officials plus foreign visitors, at the cost of ox, sheep, birds, and wine, yet still refuses the governor’s allowance because of the people’s heavy burden (5:17-18). His office becomes a means of service, not gain. Paul’s testimony is similar: coveting no one’s silver, laboring to help the weak, and remembering the Lord Jesus’ word that giving is more blessed than receiving (Acts 20:33-35). Where others had oppressed the poor, he eased their burden, and being kind to those in need honors their Maker (Proverbs 14:31).
- Nehemiah 5:16-18 (BSB)“Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land. There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.”Nehemiah devotes himself to the wall, acquires no land, and feeds many at his table without claiming the allowance.
- Acts 20:33-35 (BSB)“I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions. In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’””Paul too coveted no one’s silver and worked to help the weak, recalling the Lord Jesus’ words about giving.
- Proverbs 14:31 (BSB)“Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.”Kindness to the needy honors God, while oppressing the poor insults Him.
General
Why did many families in Judah raise an outcry against other Jews (Nehemiah 5:1-5)?
Answer: Hunger and debt forced them to mortgage land and enslave their children
During the building, a different kind of trouble arose inside the community. Some families were large and needed grain simply to survive; others had pledged their fields, vineyards, and houses to buy grain during a famine; still others had borrowed money to cover the royal tax on their land (5:2-4). Worst of all, they were having to hand over their own sons and daughters as slaves. Some daughters were already enslaved, and the parents had no means to buy them back because their land now belonged to others (5:5). They were the same flesh and blood as the richer Jews, yet they were being treated this way. The Law had told Israel to help a poor countryman so that he could keep living among them (Leviticus 25:35), and not to treat an Israelite who sold himself as a slave, since Israel belonged to the LORD (Leviticus 25:39-42).
- Nehemiah 5:1-5 (BSB)“About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.””Families describe hunger, mortgaged land, borrowing for the royal tax, and children forced into slavery.
- Leviticus 25:35 (BSB)“Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you.”The Law told Israel to help a destitute countryman so he could go on living among them.
- Leviticus 25:39-42 (BSB)“If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor. Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers. Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves.”An Israelite who sold himself was not to be made a slave, because Israel belonged to the LORD.
Theological
What was the cause of the great outcry against fellow Jews (Nehemiah 5:1-5)?
Answer: Hunger and debt forced them to mortgage land and enslave their children
An internal crisis surfaces in the midst of the building. Large families lack grain; others have mortgaged fields, vineyards, and houses during famine; others have borrowed to meet the royal tax (5:2-4). The result is that children of the covenant people are being sold into bondage, some daughters already enslaved, with no means of redemption because the land has passed to creditors (5:5). They share the same flesh as their creditors. The Law required Israel to sustain an impoverished brother among them (Leviticus 25:35) and forbade enslaving him, because Israel belonged to the LORD who brought them out of Egypt (Leviticus 25:39-42).
- Nehemiah 5:1-5 (BSB)“About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.””Families describe hunger, mortgaged land, borrowing for the royal tax, and children forced into slavery.
- Leviticus 25:35 (BSB)“Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you.”The Law told Israel to help a destitute countryman so he could go on living among them.
- Leviticus 25:39-42 (BSB)“If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor. Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers. Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves.”An Israelite who sold himself was not to be made a slave, because Israel belonged to the LORD.
General
How did Nehemiah respond when he heard the outcry (Nehemiah 5:6-7)?
Answer: He grew very angry, thought it over, then accused the nobles of usury
Nehemiah became very angry at what he heard, but he did not act rashly. He considered the matter and then confronted the nobles and the officials, charging them with usury against their own brothers (5:6-7). Usury here means demanding interest on loans to fellow Israelites. The Law forbade charging interest to a poor fellow Israelite (Exodus 22:25) or to a brother on any kind of loan (Deuteronomy 23:19-20). Nehemiah then called a large public assembly to deal with the matter (5:7).
- Nehemiah 5:6-7 (BSB)“When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry, and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them”Nehemiah’s anger, his reflection, and his charge against the nobles and officials.
- Exodus 22:25 (BSB)“If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.”The Law forbade charging interest to a poor fellow Israelite.
- Deuteronomy 23:19-20 (BSB)“Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan. You may charge a foreigner interest, but not your brother, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything to which you put your hand in the land that you are entering to possess.”Israelites were not to charge a brother interest on any kind of loan.
Theological
What was Nehemiah’s response to the outcry (Nehemiah 5:6-7)?
Answer: He grew very angry, thought it over, then accused the nobles of usury
Nehemiah’s anger is intense but deliberate: he reflects first, then charges the nobles and the officials with exacting usury from their own brothers (5:6-7). The charge rests squarely on the Law, which prohibited interest on loans to a poor Israelite (Exodus 22:25) and on any loan to a brother (Deuteronomy 23:19-20). He then convenes a great assembly to address it publicly (5:7).
- Nehemiah 5:6-7 (BSB)“When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry, and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them”Nehemiah’s anger, his reflection, and his charge against the nobles and officials.
- Exodus 22:25 (BSB)“If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.”The Law forbade charging interest to a poor fellow Israelite.
- Deuteronomy 23:19-20 (BSB)“Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan. You may charge a foreigner interest, but not your brother, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything to which you put your hand in the land that you are entering to possess.”Israelites were not to charge a brother interest on any kind of loan.
General
Why did Nehemiah refuse the food allowance that earlier governors had taken (Nehemiah 5:14-15)?
Answer: Because he feared God and would not burden the people as they had
For twelve years as governor of Judah, Nehemiah and his relatives did not eat the food set aside for the governor (5:14). The governors before him had weighed the people down, taking food, wine, and forty silver shekels, and even their servants lorded it over the people. Nehemiah did not act like that, and the reason he gives is his fear of God (5:15). Reverence for God shaped how he used his power. Samuel likewise could call Israel to witness that he had cheated and oppressed no one (1 Samuel 12:3-4), and Paul paid for his food and labored day and night so as not to weigh down the Thessalonian believers (2 Thessalonians 3:8).
- Nehemiah 5:14-15 (BSB)“Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.”For twelve years Nehemiah refuses the governor’s allowance that earlier governors took, because of his fear of God.
- 1 Samuel 12:3-4 (BSB)“Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” “You have not cheated us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.””Samuel could likewise call the people to witness that he had cheated and oppressed no one.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8 (BSB)“nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.”Paul paid for his food and worked so that he would not burden the Thessalonians.
Theological
What reason does Nehemiah give for refusing the governor’s food allowance (Nehemiah 5:14-15)?
Answer: Because he feared God and would not burden the people as they had
Across twelve years as governor, Nehemiah and his relatives decline the governor’s food allowance (5:14). His predecessors laid heavy burdens on the people, exacting food, wine, and forty silver shekels, and their servants domineered over them; Nehemiah refuses to do the same because of his fear of God (5:15). The fear of God governs his use of authority. The pattern recalls Samuel’s public testimony that he had defrauded and oppressed no one (1 Samuel 12:3-4) and Paul’s toil day and night so as not to weigh down the Thessalonian believers (2 Thessalonians 3:8).
- Nehemiah 5:14-15 (BSB)“Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.”For twelve years Nehemiah refuses the governor’s allowance that earlier governors took, because of his fear of God.
- 1 Samuel 12:3-4 (BSB)“Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” “You have not cheated us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.””Samuel could likewise call the people to witness that he had cheated and oppressed no one.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8 (BSB)“nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.”Paul paid for his food and worked so that he would not burden the Thessalonians.
General
How does Nehemiah close his account of his years as governor (Nehemiah 5:19)?
Answer: He asks God to remember him with favor for what he did for the people
Nehemiah ends this section with a short prayer, asking God to remember him favorably for all he had done for the people (5:19). The prayer is addressed to God: he places his service before God and asks God to look on him with kindness. He prays in the same way several more times in the book (13:14), and in one of those prayers he asks God to show him mercy according to His great loving devotion, that is, His faithful covenant love (13:22). A psalmist asks the same thing, that the LORD would remember him with the favor He shows His people (Psalm 106:4).
- Nehemiah 5:19 (BSB)“Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.”Nehemiah closes his account of his governorship with a prayer that God would remember him favorably.
- Nehemiah 13:14 (BSB)“Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my deeds of loving devotion for the house of my God and for its services.”Nehemiah prays the same kind of prayer again later in the book.
- Nehemiah 13:22 (BSB)“Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.”In a similar prayer he asks God to show him mercy according to His abundant loving devotion.
- Psalm 106:4 (BSB)“Remember me, O LORD, in Your favor to Your people; visit me with Your salvation,”A psalmist likewise asks the LORD to remember him with the favor He shows His people.
Theological
With what does Nehemiah conclude his account of his governorship (Nehemiah 5:19)?
Answer: He asks God to remember him with favor for what he did for the people
Nehemiah closes with a brief prayer that God would remember him favorably for all he has done for the people (5:19). He sets his service before God and asks for God’s kind regard. The same petition recurs later in the book (13:14), and in another such prayer he asks God to show him mercy according to His abundant loving devotion (13:22). The psalmist’s plea to be remembered with the favor God shows His people is the same kind of prayer (Psalm 106:4).
- Nehemiah 5:19 (BSB)“Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.”Nehemiah closes his account of his governorship with a prayer that God would remember him favorably.
- Nehemiah 13:14 (BSB)“Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my deeds of loving devotion for the house of my God and for its services.”Nehemiah prays the same kind of prayer again later in the book.
- Nehemiah 13:22 (BSB)“Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.”In a similar prayer he asks God to show him mercy according to His abundant loving devotion.
- Psalm 106:4 (BSB)“Remember me, O LORD, in Your favor to Your people; visit me with Your salvation,”A psalmist likewise asks the LORD to remember him with the favor He shows His people.
General
How did the nobles and the officials respond to Nehemiah’s call to stop charging interest and give back what they had taken (Nehemiah 5:10-13)?
Answer: They agreed to return it all, swore an oath, and kept their word
Nehemiah included himself, admitting that he, his relatives, and his servants had also been lending money and grain. He called for an end to the interest-taking and for the immediate return of their land, vines, olive trees, and houses, plus the interest charged (5:10-11). The nobles agreed to give it all back and demand nothing more (5:12). Nehemiah made the promise binding. He had them take an oath before the priests, and he shook out the fold of his robe as a sign that God would shake out anyone who broke it (5:12-13). Everyone gathered there answered Amen and gave praise to the LORD. Afterward the people kept their word (5:13). The Law required anyone who swore an oath to keep every word of it (Numbers 30:2), and a vow made to God is to be fulfilled without delay (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5).
- Nehemiah 5:10-13 (BSB)“I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury. Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.” “We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised. I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.”Nehemiah calls for an end to usury and the return of property; the nobles agree, swear an oath, and keep it.
- Numbers 30:2 (BSB)“If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.”Someone who swears an oath to the LORD must not break his word.
- Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 (BSB)“When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.”A vow made to God is to be fulfilled without delay.
Theological
What was the nobles’ response to Nehemiah’s demand for restitution (Nehemiah 5:10-13)?
Answer: They agreed to return it all, swore an oath, and kept their word
Nehemiah includes his own household among the lenders and calls for an end to the interest and the immediate return of land, vines, olive trees, houses, and the interest charged (5:10-11). The nobles consent and demand nothing further (5:12). He binds them by oath before the priests and enacts a curse by shaking out his robe’s fold, so may God shake out the one who breaks it (5:12-13). The assembly answers Amen and gives praise to the LORD; afterward the people keep their word (5:13). An oath sworn before God is binding (Numbers 30:2) and must be fulfilled promptly (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5).
- Nehemiah 5:10-13 (BSB)“I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury. Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.” “We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised. I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.”Nehemiah calls for an end to usury and the return of property; the nobles agree, swear an oath, and keep it.
- Numbers 30:2 (BSB)“If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.”Someone who swears an oath to the LORD must not break his word.
- Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 (BSB)“When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.”A vow made to God is to be fulfilled without delay.
General
True or False: Nehemiah urged the nobles to live in fear of God so that their foreign enemies would have no grounds to taunt them (Nehemiah 5:9).
Answer: True
This is true. Nehemiah told the nobles plainly that what they were doing was wrong, and asked whether they ought not to live in reverent fear of God, so that their foreign enemies would have nothing to sneer at (5:9). The Law tied fair treatment of a poor countryman directly to fearing God (Leviticus 25:36). The way God’s people treat one another reflects on God’s name before outsiders. Paul says that God’s name was dishonored among the nations because of His people’s sins (Romans 2:24), while Peter urges believers to live honorably so that outsiders notice their good conduct and give glory to God (1 Peter 2:12).
- Nehemiah 5:9 (BSB)“So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?”Nehemiah tells the nobles their conduct is wrong and calls them to the fear of God because of the watching enemies.
- Leviticus 25:36 (BSB)“Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you.”The Law joined refusing interest from a countryman to fearing God.
- Romans 2:24 (BSB)“As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.””When God’s people sin, God’s name is dishonored among the nations.
- 1 Peter 2:12 (BSB)“Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.”Honorable conduct before outsiders leads them to give glory to God.
Theological
True or False: Nehemiah called the nobles to live in reverence for God so as not to give their foreign enemies cause for reproach (Nehemiah 5:9).
Answer: True
This is true. Nehemiah pronounces their conduct wrong and appeals to reverence for God, so that the surrounding enemies would have no grounds for reproach (5:9). The Law itself grounded the prohibition of interest in reverence for God (Leviticus 25:36). The conduct of God’s people bears on the honor of His name before outsiders: their sin causes it to be dishonored among the nations (Romans 2:24), while honorable conduct leads outsiders to glorify God (1 Peter 2:12).
- Nehemiah 5:9 (BSB)“So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?”Nehemiah tells the nobles their conduct is wrong and calls them to the fear of God because of the watching enemies.
- Leviticus 25:36 (BSB)“Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you.”The Law joined refusing interest from a countryman to fearing God.
- Romans 2:24 (BSB)“As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.””When God’s people sin, God’s name is dishonored among the nations.
- 1 Peter 2:12 (BSB)“Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.”Honorable conduct before outsiders leads them to give glory to God.