Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 5 is the fifth chapter of the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible,[1] or the 15th chapter of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible, which treats the book of Ezra and book of Nehemiah as one book.[2] Jewish tradition states that Ezra is the author of Ezra-Nehemiah as well as the Book of Chronicles,[3] but modern scholars generally accept that a compiler from 5th century BCE (so-called "the Chronicler") is the final author of these books.[4] This chapter records the reform of Nehemiah in the case of economic oppression among the Jews, and how he led by example.[5]

Nehemiah 5
A stained glass window depicting Nehemiah as "counsellor". Signed by Joshua Clarke & Sons, Dublin. St Patrick's Church, Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ireland
BookBook of Nehemiah
CategoryKetuvim
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part16

Text

The original text of this chapter is in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 19 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).[6][lower-alpha 1]

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century).[8]

Troubles within (5:1–13)

For any organization or nation, Any internal schisms, inequities, or injustices in any organization or nation will bring ruin far quicker than outside attack, so the well-being (and survival) of a particular group or community depends on its internal health.[9] This section deals with the economic oppression among the Jews (verses 1–5), Nehemiah’s judgment on the issue (verses 6–11), and the pledge of the people (verses 12–13).[10]

Verse 1
Now there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.[11]
  • "Outcry of the people": from Hebrew: צעקת העם‎, tsa-‘ă-qaṯ hā-‘ām,[12] is the cry of oppression against their own people, their Jewish neighbors; in contrast to the cry against Pharaoh, or the cry against enemies (cf. Exodus 14:10; 22:23), also ‘the cry to God for deliverance from injustice and abuse’ (Psalm 107:6, 19–20).[13]

Leadership by example (5:14–19)

In the position of leadership, Nehemiah led by example, where he demonstrates his integrity and his unbending adherence to God’s laws and his moral standard.[14] Unlike the previous governors who took bread, wine, and 'forty shekels of silver',[13] Nehemiah forfeited his right to income from taxes, and even at his own expense provided ‘the necessities expected of a government official’.[14]

Verse 14
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah (from the twentieth year even until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes) twelve years had passed. And my companions and I had not eaten the governor's food allotment.[15]

Nehemiah's appointment took place in Nisan 444 BC (or 445 BC; the 20th year of Artaxerxes I), as recorded in Nehemiah 2:1, and he governed Judah for 12 years.[16] Therefore, the entire first section of the Book of Nehemiah (chapters 1–7) could be written after 432 BC (the 32nd year of Artaxerxes I), the year when Nehemiah returned to the Persian court from Jerusalem (Nehemiah 13:6).[16]

See also
  • Related Bible parts: Deuteronomy 20, Deuteronomy 21, Deuteronomy 25, Nehemiah 2, Nehemiah 13

Notes
  1. Since 1947 the current text of Aleppo Codex is missing the whole book of Ezra-Nehemiah.[7]

References
  1. Halley 1965, p. 236.
  2. Grabbe 2003, p. 313.
  3. Babylonian Talmud Baba Bathra 15a, apud Fensham 1982, p. 2
  4. Fensham 1982, pp. 2–4.
  5. Smith-Christopher 2007, pp. 319-320.
  6. Würthwein 1995, pp. 36-37.
  7. P. W. Skehan (2003), "BIBLE (TEXTS)", New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2 (2nd ed.), Gale, pp. 355–362
  8. Würthwein 1995, pp. 73-74.
  9. Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, p. 182.
  10. Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, p. 190.
  11. Nehemiah 5:1 MEV
  12. Hebrew Text Analysis: Nehemiah 5:1. Biblehub
  13. Smith-Christopher 2007, p. 319.
  14. Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, p. 186.
  15. Nehemiah 5:14 MEV
  16. Exell, Joseph S.; Spence-Jones, Henry Donald Maurice (Editors). On "Nehemiah 5". In: The Pulpit Commentary. 23 volumes. First publication: 1890. Accessed 24 April 2019.

Sources

Further reading
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