There were rich people in the land. Rich people who apparently made a lot of money during the exile, or had returned earlier and established businesses. These rich people were predatory lenders who were exacting usury, which mean interest. The poor in Israel were slaves to the rich. This is not the way things were intended to be, with the rich getting richer, and the destitute mortgaging their land and even their children to square up their payments.
So Nehemiah calls a meeting and basically rips these people a new one. So vehement were Nehemiah's admonishings that the wealthy fellows were moved to give it back, and additionally, not charge any more. Nehemiah held them to this with an oath.
He demonstrates God's feelings about rich folk exacting usury on poor folk by standing up, shaking out the folds of his robe, and declaring that God would shake out of his house those who didn't keep that oath. It wasn't enough for Nehemiah to just say these things without being an example. He lived it out. He didn't eat the luxury food appointed to him as governor. He didn't wall himself off in the safety of some remote tent while the wall was being built. He got right in there, got his hands dirty, and lived it.
God's ways for dealing with the poor are pretty evident here. They shouldn't be taken advantage of in any way. These poor were trying, they weren't lazy good-fer-nothings. But they were still being enslaved for lack of power. God would throw people out of his house if they didn't stop being mean to the poor.
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NEHEMIAH ABOLISHES INTEREST
From: johnturmel.com/poembibl.htm
In Nehemiah 5 we hear complaints by needy men,
Of the conditions that existed in the nation then.
Some said "We've had to mortgage all our vineyards and our fields,
To get grain during famine though they've had abundant yields."
Some others said "We've had to borrow money for the King,
Whose taxes on our fields and vineyards leave us not a thing."
Still others said "Their flesh and blood is of our family tree,
Yet our children suffer under yoke of slavery."
When Nehemiah heard them, anger great he could not mask,
The nobles and the rulers were the ones he took to task.
He called a great assembly where he chose to lay the blame,
On bankers, judges, politicians who had run the game:
"You are exacting usury of your own countrymen,
Unlike my men who freely lend to needy brethren.
What you are doing is not right, you must do as we do.
So "Stop exacting interest!" It is the Big Taboo.
Return their fields and vineyards and their houses and their grain,
And also all the usury, the whole illicit gain."
The nobles and the rulers said: "They will not have to pay.
We'll give them back all their possessions. We'll do what you say."
Prosperity resulted from his ban on interest,
"Remember me, O God, with favor" was his last request.
Watch out for many Bibles where the most important phrase,
Has been deleted from the text, the problem not to faze.
The message Nehemiah states is "Stop the interest,
And give them back what you have seized and it'll turn out best."
The newer versions of the Bible simply state "Atone,
And give them back their stuff." No talk of interest on loan.
Who chose to cut the answer out? Who played this evil role?
We know the ones who own the publishers have sole control.
See youtube.com/kingofthepaupers
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