Nehemiah 5:7 - Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.
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What does "Nehemiah 5:7" mean?
Nehemiah 5:7 describes a situation where Nehemiah, the governor of Jerusalem, confronts the nobles and rulers of Judah about their oppressive practice of lending money at interest (usury) to their fellow Israelites. Let's break it down:
"Then I consulted with myself...": This shows Nehemiah took time to think and reflect on what he had observed. It indicates he didn't act impulsively but considered the gravity of the situation and the best course of action.
"...and contended with the nobles and the rulers...": Nehemiah directly confronted the wealthy and influential leaders of the community. "Contended" suggests he argued strongly with them, likely pointing out the injustice and immorality of their actions.
"...and said to them, 'You exact usury, everyone of his brother.'": This is the core of the accusation. "Usury" refers to lending money at an exorbitant or unlawful interest rate. Biblical law (Leviticus 25:36-37) forbade Israelites from charging interest to their fellow Israelites in need. Nehemiah accused these nobles and rulers of violating this law by exploiting their vulnerable brothers through predatory lending practices. The phrase "everyone of his brother" emphasizes the familial bond and moral obligation they were violating.
"I held a great assembly against them.": Nehemiah escalated the confrontation by calling a public meeting, a large gathering of the people, to address the issue. This was a public shaming and a way to bring pressure on the nobles and rulers to change their behavior. By appealing to the community as a whole, Nehemiah sought to create a groundswell of support for his reforms and hold the leaders accountable.
In Summary:
Nehemiah, upon learning that the nobles and rulers were charging their impoverished fellow Israelites interest on loans (which was against Jewish law), was deeply disturbed. He first considered the matter carefully, then confronted the leaders directly, accusing them of exploiting their own people. Finally, he organized a public assembly to publicly denounce their actions and pressure them to stop the practice. The verse demonstrates Nehemiah's moral leadership, his willingness to confront injustice, and his commitment to upholding the principles of the Torah.
Nehemiah 5:7 - Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.
What does "Nehemiah 5:7" mean?
Nehemiah 5:7 describes a situation where Nehemiah, the governor of Jerusalem, confronts the nobles and rulers of Judah about their oppressive practice of lending money at interest (usury) to their fellow Israelites. Let's break it down:
"Then I consulted with myself...": This shows Nehemiah took time to think and reflect on what he had observed. It indicates he didn't act impulsively but considered the gravity of the situation and the best course of action.
"...and contended with the nobles and the rulers...": Nehemiah directly confronted the wealthy and influential leaders of the community. "Contended" suggests he argued strongly with them, likely pointing out the injustice and immorality of their actions.
"...and said to them, 'You exact usury, everyone of his brother.'": This is the core of the accusation. "Usury" refers to lending money at an exorbitant or unlawful interest rate. Biblical law (Leviticus 25:36-37) forbade Israelites from charging interest to their fellow Israelites in need. Nehemiah accused these nobles and rulers of violating this law by exploiting their vulnerable brothers through predatory lending practices. The phrase "everyone of his brother" emphasizes the familial bond and moral obligation they were violating.
"I held a great assembly against them.": Nehemiah escalated the confrontation by calling a public meeting, a large gathering of the people, to address the issue. This was a public shaming and a way to bring pressure on the nobles and rulers to change their behavior. By appealing to the community as a whole, Nehemiah sought to create a groundswell of support for his reforms and hold the leaders accountable.
In Summary:
Nehemiah, upon learning that the nobles and rulers were charging their impoverished fellow Israelites interest on loans (which was against Jewish law), was deeply disturbed. He first considered the matter carefully, then confronted the leaders directly, accusing them of exploiting their own people. Finally, he organized a public assembly to publicly denounce their actions and pressure them to stop the practice. The verse demonstrates Nehemiah's moral leadership, his willingness to confront injustice, and his commitment to upholding the principles of the Torah.