Reading 86 | The Bible in 100 Passages

Tuesday, December 9, 2025  

Today's Scripture
Nehemiah 5:1–13

Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish kin. For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many; we must get grain, so that we may eat and stay alive.” There were also those who said, “We are having to pledge our fields, our vineyards, and our houses in order to get grain during the famine.” And there were those who said, “We are having to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay the king’s tax. Now our flesh is the same as that of our kindred; our children are the same as their children; and yet we are forcing our sons and daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been ravished; we are powerless, and our fields and vineyards now belong to others.”

I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints. After thinking it over, I brought charges against the nobles and the officials; I said to them, “You are all taking interest from your own people.” And I called a great assembly to deal with them, and said to them, “As far as we were able, we have bought back our Jewish kindred who had been sold to other nations; but now you are selling your own kin, who must then be bought back by us!” They were silent, and could not find a word to say. So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God, to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? Moreover I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us stop this taking of interest. Restore to them, this very day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the interest on money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.” Then they said, “We will restore everything and demand nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests, and made them take an oath to do as they had promised. I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out everyone from house and from property who does not perform this promise. Thus may they be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised. (NRSV)

Reflection

I don’t want to draw facile comparisons with events of the Old Testament and the present day. “Income inequality” is a very hot topic, and this passage seems to describe that kind of situation. But the core of this passage to me is the rancor felt among the Jewish people, as they rise up against the judges. The plight of some of the tribes is harsh enough to remind them of their slavery. In Egypt, they and their families were no more than tools and beasts of burden for others. It isn’t much different here.

And yet Nehemiah defuses the civil war and makes doing it look incredibly easy. What was key to his argument? First, that the abuse of fellow tribesmen is evil in the sight of God, and second, the abuse shows to other nations that Israel can’t even take care of its own.

Can Israel be described as a true nation, descended from twelve brothers, if they treat each other so shamefully? Can mere contracts and wealth generation be so much more important than the lives and well-being of fellow tribesmen?

Maybe shame in front of a great assembly and other nations is an important corrective. (But Nehemiah isn’t naive and makes the priests swear publicly that they will do the right thing. Maybe that catalyst will make the shame actually change behavior.)

Prayer

Heavenly Creator, we are all your children, but so many times we ignore that lineage, for money, power, and ego. Please give us the wisdom of Nehemiah here, to praise you, to identify injustice, and to lift up all humanity like the family it is, the family you gave us. Amen.

Written by Jim Garner, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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