Day 556 of 939
NEH 5
NEH 5 · PSA 87:1-88:7
Not written yet
The reading for this day is below. The commentary has not been written and reviewed yet — it is added a book at a time, and every day is read by a person before it appears here.
NEH 5
1About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. 2Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” 3Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” 4Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5We 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.” 6When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry, 7and 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 8and 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. 9So 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? 10I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury. 11Please 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.” 12“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. 13I 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. 14Furthermore, 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. 15The 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. 16Instead, 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. 17There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations. 18Each 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. 19Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.
Secondary reading — PSA 87:1-88:7
1He has founded His city on the holy mountains. 2The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3Glorious things are ascribed to you, O city of God. Selah 4“I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me— along with Philistia, Tyre, and Cush — when I say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’” 5And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.” 6The LORD will record in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.” Selah 7Singers and pipers will proclaim, “All my springs of joy are in You.” 1O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You. 2May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. 3For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. 4I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. 5I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. 6You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths. 7Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me. Selah