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Chapter 5 addresses a grievance that the people had. He had kept them from being destroyed by their enemy, now he must keep them from destroying themselves. The problem was high interest rates. The poor were forced to borrow money from the rich and the rich made them pay dearly for it. When the poor ran out of money for the necessities of life, they had to sell their children or mortgage their possessions. Many had already borrowed to their limit to pay their taxes. Nehemiah called a public meeting. He condemned the rich for what they were doing. They had nothing to say in their own defense. He shamed them into returning the property that they had taken in security and drop the claims that they had against their brethren. All agreed to do as Nehemiah said and reforms were instituted to take care of this.
As governor, Nehemiah had set an example of compassion and tenderness. For the 12 years that he was Governor of Judah, neither he nor his aids had received any money from the people of Judah. Former Governors had received food, wine plus $100 a day in cash. He did this in spite of the fact that he regularly fed 150 officials and housed and fed visitors from other countries from time to time. He refused to make a special levy for this purpose because he knew that the people were already having a difficult time.
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