NEHEMIAH 5

NEHEMIAH’S GENEROSITY + SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORM

Nehemiah addresses poverty and oppression within Jerusalem, directly related to the Israelites loaning money to their own people with extremely high interest rates. Nehemiah hates seeing Israelites become less advantaged for the gain of other Israelites. Nehemiah asks the lenders to give back the interest, providing a more equal playing field for the Israelites who are indebted.

As a leader in the nation, Nehemiah turns down the more lavish food allotment and does not own any land. Instead of living at a higher standard of living, Nehemiah lives in the same conditions as the other people working on the wall construction.